by LAUREN CODLING ASIANS have been urged to consider adopting or fostering children in need, as a leading charity claimed young people from BAME backgrounds often wait longer to be placed with families than their white peers. According to figures, as of March 2017, five per cent of children in care are Asian. Children’s charity Coram which runs adoption services across the country, has urged BAME families in south London to consider adoption. Last Tuesday (28), the charity organised an event in Brixton, south London, to highlight the urgent need for adoptive families from the ethnic community. Renuka Jeyarajah-Dent, the director of operations and deputy CEO at Coram, spoke to Eastern Eye of her hope that Asian communities would see the need to help vulnerable children. According to Jeyarajah-Dent, the law says that children should live with a carer of their own background. However, this is not always possible. Renuka Jeyarajah-Dent “You are meant to place a child with the same cultural and racial background,” she said. “But if you can’t, being with a family is more important than not being in one.” The charity, formed in 1739, claimed that children from BAME backgrounds often wait longer to be placed with adoptive families. There are currently around 220 children across London waiting to be adopted. Alice Noon, head of Coram Adoption in London, said the charity aimed to find permanent, loving homes for every child who needs support. “We want to do everything possible to encourage more people from the BAME community to come forward as adopters,” she said. “We are here to guide adopters through the life-changing process of becoming parents, and we offer support for all families who adopt with us, for as long as they need us.” The charity also hosts an array of events to encourage…
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