Posted on August 2nd, 2025

Transitioning into a new classroom can feel lonely, even overwhelming, especially for care-experienced students. Pause. Imagine having the insight and tools to understand attachment patterns, respond with confidence, and help young …

By Susan Vickers
Executive Summary

Whilst social media feeds overflow with picture perfect family holidays, thousands of care experienced children across the UK face a different summer reality. With nearly 84,000 children currently in care and around 400,000 …

Posted on June 18th, 2025 

Adoption in the UK isn’t just about court papers and family reshuffles—it’s tangled up in real lives, personal histories, and a quiet tug-of-war between knowing and not knowing. 

While laws here try to walk the line between privacy …

Posted on May 20th, 2025

Adoption’s got layers. It’s not just about switching families and carrying on—it’s about piecing together a past that didn’t ask for your permission to shape you.

For many adopted folks, childhood trauma isn’t some dramatic headline …

By Susan Vickers

Introduction

Adoption is a deeply transformative journey, not only for the child and adoptive parents but crucially for the birth mother, whose role is often overshadowed and misunderstood. Understanding and honouring the birth mother's …

By Susan Vickers

Christmas is often portrayed as the most wonderful time of the year – a season of joy, family gatherings, and cherished traditions. However, for many fostered and adopted individuals, this period can bring unique emotional challenges that deserve …

Posted on April 17th, 2025

Sometimes, the most remarkable journeys are not those that follow a straight line, but those that carve their distinct paths, drawing from a rich variety of experiences and stories. In this context, celebrations are more than just an …

Posted on March 18th, 2025

When considering the breadth of challenges faced by care professionals, especially those in children's services, one pivotal aspect stands out—handling the invisible weights of vicarious trauma. Unlike more tangible obstacles, this …

Posted on February 25th, 2025

Mental health is often perceived through a clouded lens, leading to an environment where discussions are either hushed or hastily concluded. Imagine walking through life carrying an invisible weight, a weight that society …

Susan gets ready to launch her second book, about life as an Adoptee.

LOVE SUSAN PRESS RELEASE

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Introducing 'Love Susan': A Heartfelt Exploration of Adoption Through the Eyes of the Adoptee**

After the success of her last book, …

By Susan Vickers

This blog explores the profound psychological and emotional drivers behind care-experienced individuals' desire to reconnect with their biological parents. Drawing from personal narratives and psychological research, we examine how this journey …

By Susan Vickers
As we stand on the threshold of 2025, the weight of expectations and uncertainties can feel particularly heavy for those with care experience. The Susan Vickers Foundation, with its motto "Turning Pain Into Purpose," understands these challenges …

By Susan Vickers

Each year, the UK dedicates a week to highlighting the experiences and needs of young people transitioning from care to independent living. Let's examine this crucial initiative from its fundamental elements to understand its true significance and …

By Susan Vickers

A groundbreaking study has exposed significant challenges in mental health support for adopted children in the UK, revealing a concerning disconnect between parents' needs and available services. The research, which surveyed 98 adoptive parents, …

Updated on: 13/03/2022

Broadcaster Susan Vickers is preparing to launch her first book and identity and empowerment.

She is also a model, entrepreneur, and community champion who supports many local festivals, charities, and events.

“I am so looking forward to …

By Susan Vickers

This week, from October 16th to October 22nd, 2024, the UK observes National Adoption Week, an annual event that shines a spotlight on the transformative power of adoption. As someone deeply involved in community support and championing important …

By Shanta Allen MBACP, Therapeutic Counsellor & Foster

Fostering in the UK in 2024 presents a unique blend of challenges and rewards. While the landscape has evolved over the years, the fundamental need for loving homes for children who cannot live with their …

Being truthful with foster and adopted children is essential for their emotional well-being and long-term development. While it may be tempting to shield them from difficult truths, honesty, when balanced with sensitivity, is ultimately the best policy. However, …

By Susan Vickers

Introduction

In our journey to reshape perceptions and empower lives, we often encounter stories that reveal the profound impact of stigma on children in care and care experienced individuals. LAC, or Looked After Children, face unique challenges …

by Susan Vickers

Introduction

Navigating the dynamics of a family where both biological and adopted children coexist can indeed be a challenging yet profoundly rewarding journey. Communication is the cornerstone of creating a nurturing environment where every …

by Susan Vickers

Introduction

Welcoming a new member into your family through adoption is a profound and exciting journey. It’s a time filled with anticipation and adjustments, not just for parents but also for your biological children. Preparing your existing …

By Susan Vickers

When considering expanding your family through adoption, embracing a group of siblings can be a uniquely rewarding decision. Sibling adoption not only keeps brothers and sisters together but also fortifies their ability to thrive in a new family …

By Susan Vickers.

The decision to place a child for adoption is one of the most profound acts of love and sacrifice a parent can make. Yet, this heart-wrenching choice often comes at a significant emotional cost, leaving birth parents to navigate a complex …

By Susan Vickers

Introduction

When we speak of adoption, our thoughts often gravitate towards the heartwarming tales of families being made whole, a child finding a forever home, and the boundless joys that follow. However, the story of adoption is …

The revelation of adoption can have a ripple effect on the entire family dynamic. Here’s an expansion of the blog that includes the impact on other family members:

The Heart of Discovery: Embracing Adoption Within the Family

In the quiet sanctuary of our homes, …

By Susan Vickers

Introduction: The journey of an adoptee seeking to reconnect with biological family members is fraught with emotional highs and lows. The culmination of this journey, the reunion, is often anticipated with a mix of hope, excitement, and anxiety. …

By Susan Vickers

Introduction

The journey of foster children through the care system is fraught with complexities. These young individuals often grapple with feelings of abandonment, rejection, and trauma--emotions that can have a profound impact on their mental …

By Susan Vickers

Introduction

Adoption can be a profound and positive journey, yet it often comes entangled with challenges unique to the adoptive experience. Many adoptees experience what's known as adoption trauma — emotional and psychological challenges …

By Susan Vickers

1. Unresolved grief and guilt over the relinquishment. Many birth mothers have suppressed the painful emotions surrounding placing their child for adoption. A reunion can trigger these buried feelings of loss, shame, and regret, leaving them …

By Susan Vickers

Adoption reunions carry the weight of profound emotions and the potential for life-altering connections. Yet, they are delicate dances fraught with complexities that can lead to unexpected outcomes. Here are some of the nuanced reasons why these …

The concept of the "''Primitive Poison''" refers to the profound sense of loss and abandonment that adopted children may experience due to being separated from their birth mothers at an early age. This emotional trauma can have lasting impacts on an adoptee's …

Introduction

Every child deserves the warmth and safety of a caring home. The adoption and foster care systems play a crucial role in offering this refuge to children in need. However, these systems are not immune to challenges, notably the risk of exploitation. …

Exploring the nexus between identity and cultural capital in the context of adoption and foster care opens up a significant area of discourse important for both understanding and better supporting individuals in these settings. Identity, encompassing the …

Every child deserves a loving home and a community where they truly belong. In the rich tapestry of modern society, the concepts of diversity and inclusion have taken root not only in our workplaces and educational institutions but also in the fields of adoption …

For many adopted children, the desire to uncover their origins burns like an eternal flame within their hearts. This longing transcends the love and security provided by their adoptive families, as they seek to unravel the mysteries of their birth stories.

From a …

Based on the information gathered, here are the key reasons why people in the UK may choose to foster children rather than adopt:

Flexibility and Temporary Nature of Fostering

Fostering provides a temporary home for children without the full legal and permanent …

"Pain to Power" is a poignant mini-film created by Central Youth Theatre that tells the story of Susan Vickers, a remarkable woman who overcame the challenges of being fostered and adopted in Wolverhampton.

The film is a testament to Susan's resilience and …

Posted on April 30th, 2024

According to UK statistics, adoption trauma is a significant issue affecting many adopted children. 

A study by Adoption UK found that 71% of adopted children have suffered significant trauma. Research suggests that 75% of the 5,500 …

There are a few potential reasons why young people who have experienced care sometimes get portrayed negatively or face stigma:

1. Lack of understanding about their backgrounds and experiences. Many young people enter the care system due to no fault of their own, …

Why is it important we look after the mental, emotional and physical health of foster, adopted and young people who grew up in the care system? Fostered, adopted, and young people who grew up in the care system often face unique challenges that can impact their …

We aspire to help adoptees, fostered and care experience people     

- By developing their cultural capital, individuals can enhance their understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, which can lead to more respectful and inclusive interactions with others.

Our foundation is committed to creating a more equitable future for care-experienced children. We recognise the unique challenges and disparities they face and are dedicated to breaking down barriers.

Through advocacy, support, and empowerment programmes, we aim …

Our foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of children in care by providing them with the cultural capital they need to thrive. We believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow through …

Our foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of children in care by providing them with the cultural capital they need to thrive.

We believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow through …