If a child has been or may be adopted through Cheshire Children's Services, there is an independent support service available for that child's birth family which is run by a local Voluntary Adoption Agency called Adoption Matters. Whenever Cheshire Children's Services make an adoption plan for a child they are looking after, birth relatives can have access to this support service. Adoption Matters is a Voluntary Adoption Agency which has a base in Chester, but covers the whole of Cheshire as well as a much wider North West region. Adoption Matters has vast experience in supporting and working with children and families. Support can be offered before, during or after court proceedings.

Adoption Matters aims to:

- Talk with you about what adoption means and answer your questions.

- Listen to you and your views.

- Explain what happens in court. - Support you while the court considers the child's future and afterwards.

- Help you to provide information which will help the child know about you and your family in the future.

Adoption Matters support service can't:

- Change the plan for the child.

- Represent you in court.

This service is available before or after an adoption order is made. See our resource page for their contact details or link to their website.