Should we join adoption uk?

Some LA's even pay for one years membership. Perhaps you could ask your to pay it for you.

Thank you all,
Really interesting answers.

Today was the lady day of prep course and I brought up does the la pay for auk - only when you have been through panel and successful.

I need to investigate my resources of local support groups in the area.

How things were left today at prep course, la will email people that have popped their email addresses on sheet and we can stay in touch.
Coffee morning be good, catch up.

One couple seemed secretive when asked about their knowledge and resources, they did an online link up with a tutor the other day but would t discuss any info for us to learn....the hubby just came out with random quotes from baaf - really odd, but we are all different!

I'm going to hold off joining auk just for now - on auk is two fees.....with or without magazine so does that mean magazine membership better?
Need to read up more.

Thank you a rain lovely people xx
Pirate

In the early days they were an invaluable resource for my family. I found lots of useful info in the magazine and attended course advertised in there . i also made use of our local support group and have gone to some of their conferences and   fun days they have organised where have made some very good friends and support network. they were also very good when I needed some legal advice.if you are on a low income they do offer reduced prices. YOu can chose whether you have both parts of the journal  or not. Give it a go for a year.
some agencies don't like AUK because of the 'scare' stories but they are what some people have to endure on planet adoption and people should know it is not always 'happy ever after'. I also thing some SW don't like it because it empowers adopters  with knowledge and ideas of how to help their children.

I joined before prep because I thought it would help to demonstrate my commitment to adoption to the SWs. I went for the option without Children Who Wait as I thought it was too early to start seeing that; my LA pays for 2 years' membership once I've been approved. I have found the magazines interesting and I've been invited to a family day and other events as a result which I've found worthwhile. I've also borrowed a load of their books/DVDs so think I've had my money's worth! It's helped me meet other people in my area who have adopted/are in the process.

We joined after attending a few of the local support group meetings (which are open to non members as well) - and also seeing some of the material as my sister & brother-in-law are members. Of course not 3 weeks after we joined our LA decided to pay for 1 years membership for all prospective adopters but such is life. I have found their library a good resource and am just glad to have them there as a source of information and support.

I was a member in the early days before we adopted and for a few years afterwards and I found their magazines and articles to be really informative as this was before the boards had taken off.

I used to attend meetings and saw many speakers and attended interesting talks. I went on many Sunday walks, before and after, my DD's came home and found it invaluable being able to meet other adopters and to talk through things with them. I also helped set up our local Auk toddler group which we attended when mine were little and it was wonderful meeting with other adopters once a month for a chat and a coffee whilst our LO's played together. I made many friends through this and am still very friendly with some of them to this day, which I think is really good as my DD's know other friends who are adopted too and I think this is very important.

So in summary I would say, that joining Auk before you adopt is a very good idea if you have an active group in your area. It is a great way of educating yourself about all things adoption related and a great way of making friends with other adopters, but would also say, that once your children are home it is up to yourself to be pro-active and make your own connections and arrangements as I think once the AO has gone through the post adoption support is not all that great.

Finding boards like this is the best for support IMO, because we are living the life and we do it everyday, for better or worse, and as I have said many times before, this is where I feel Auk have let us down badly, they don' want to listen which is why I stopped being a member quite a few years ago.

Our support group usually has more prospective adopters as attendees. It is where I met my bunch of friends years ago, and was very helpful at the time.

Think the whole purpose of the prep, is to show how flexible you are, you'e not afraid of using ANY resource thats available, to show SW's you can work with professionals etc, you can ask for help..........I always say prep/HS a bit like my driving test; You know you're checking your rear view mirror all the time, but you have to spell it out by turning your head 180 degress, so the instructer could SEE you were using the mirrors!!

Basically - whatever they suggest, do in leaps and bounds and make sure you spell it out, dont assume from one comment youve made that they'll pick up on whatever your point is...over-egg it!! (Have I made my point !!!!! )

After approval our SW gave us the application form to join and our LA paid for a years membership. We had no response from any of the children's profiles we enquired about on there but that is more the SW than AUK I guess.

I joined when it was still Ppias - so many many moons ago and after the debacle with the boards I did not renew again.

I was an active member of our great local support group and have seen fab coordinators come and go over the years - we now have a sub group of folk who support each other outside of the group as I have known them so long and they know all our kids quirks and strengths and the children all know each other as adults though they don't see each other as often now of course  but still keep track through us parents. Still go and speak occasionally as mainly newbies who come and drift away but some find their way to our well trammelled group eventually.

My children benefitted hugely from meeting so many other adopted children and parents over the years from the camping trips to sandy balls, national members day meet ups and picnics etc organised by the local volunteer coordinators - the children always behaved brilliantly probably because there was no pressure and they felt safe amongst their peers so a rest for me and dh. Great for dh as he made a friendship group of other weary dads and together they could muddle their way through. Of course that then led to the fab old boards and the wonderful friendships that came from there and the mad first meet ups and camping trips tentatively tried by the first intrepid few - trepidatious about meeting strangers who may be weird and not least about camping - some doing it in much style in a pink Barbie tent - you know who you are! Look at all the meet ups that have grown from those early days and the plethora of e groups.

The main magazine was great and useful for me to highlight bits so I could prove to dh it wasn't me going mad or parenting badly - it was in fact the kids

Training was excellent and always a great opportunity to meet other adopters dealing with difficult things or learning how they'd survived challenging times or just learning new tools for that rainy day.

The helpline brilliant in times of sheer desperation or isolation despite all the supportive contacts is made

The lending library resources saved me a fortune in books tapes DVDs etc

As a panel member now I look for adopters to be resourceful and open to using whatever they can find to benefit their children and to build their skills as parents in the future so always look to see how proactive they are in thinking through this so am hopeful when I see folk looking at the boards as scary as they can be - or taking up membership especially when provided by some enlightened LA's (amazing how many parents didn't take up theirs or didn't want the magazine as it had the word adoption on it !). But equally if they are seeking to build their support network of other adopters through links some LAs offer.

As an adoptive parent I would still signpost folk at whatever stage to the organisation albeit I would also alert them to the fact they are an ASA and have policies in place that may conflict with their own support needs.

Certainly been worth my membership fees over many many years and in no small part the reason I am still here and sat at my own digital kitchen table all these years later (a kitchen table is where the old Ppias first started over 40 years ago btw)

Mx