HAMPSHIRE residents are being urged to give children the opportunity to flourish by considering adoption.

National Adoption Week is approaching and Hampshire County Council is inviting members of the public to information events across the county to find out more.

The focus of this year’s week, which runs from October 19 to October 25, is the theme of “too old at four”.

This aims to highlight the urgent need for people to provide homes for older children, who are often likely to be in sibling groups or to have additional needs.

Cllr Keith Mans, executive lead member for children’s services, said: “We continually need more people to come forward to give a child in need a stable family home.

“Anyone who may be considering adoption is encouraged to go along to one of our events for the chance to have any questions answered.

“There are a number of reasons why a child may be separated from their birth family but what they have in common is a difficult start in life that means they can no longer be brought up by their birth family. They need the opportunity to flourish in a loving, stable family home.”

The Daily Echo has previously backed the call to find a loving home for dozens of youngsters across the county as a whole. Our Give a Child a Home campaign helped 100 Hampshire youngsters looking for permanent homes.

Suzie and her husband Pete, who would only be identified by their first names, had always wanted to adopt siblings but had imagined it would be two children.

Suzie said: “I have really enjoyed helping them deal with the challenges in their lives and watching them blossom.

They are all teenagers now and it has been good to see them develop from where they were in their lives when they came to us.”

The events will be held at St Maurice’s Covert in Winchester from midday until 2pm on October 19 , at Petersfield Square from midday until 2pm on October 20, and from 10am until 2pm on Saturday 24th at the Ageas Bowl’s Shaun Udal Suite.