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Our PAC-UK service is the largest independent adoption agency in the UK. With bases in Leeds, Liverpool and London PAC-UK has been reaching out to individuals, families and professionals from the Scottish borders to the south coast for 38 years.

Entering adoption, Special Guardianship or another permanent placement is an important step forward in a child’s life. We understand that this is the beginning of a life-long journey, not just for the child, but also for the adoptive/permanent care family and the birth family left behind.

Our support extends to all these groups, and includes adults adopted as children who continue to find difficulties arising on their own life journey. We also offer advice to professionals working with these families in different contexts – in particular adoption social workers, school teachers and virtual school staff.

Our vision is that all those affected by adoption, Special Guardianship and other forms of permanent care are supported and enabled to live their lives to the full. The above video explains the work we do, and more information on PAC-UK services can be found on this page and the PAC-UK website.

Adopted Adult Support

Adoption is often considered a solely positive event that ensures a child grows up in a family, and at the same time allows the creation or extension of a family. However, years of experience have shown that adoption can be very challenging too, and for all parties involved. Adults who were adopted as children often find that they struggle with a range of specific issues for which they need support from counsellors who understand adoption. This is where PAC-UK can help.

The services that PAC-UK can offer may vary around the country. Our Advice Line will be able to help you look at what is available to you. Available services include:

  • National PAC-UK Advice Line (0300 1800 090)
  • Face-to-Face Counselling
  • Telephone Counselling
  • Access to Adoption Records, Searching and Intermediary Service
  • Support Groups

Visit the Adopted Adult Support page on the PAC-UK website for more information.

Birth Parent & Relatives Support

PAC-UK’s specialist birth parent and relative support services include our First Family Service, face-to-face and telephone counselling, private intermediary services (for birth relatives of adults adopted as children) and support groups. Our PAC-UK Advice Line can provide you with more information on services you can access in your region and associated fees where applicable.

Visit the Birth Parents & Relatives Support page on the PAC-UK website for more information.

Child & Family Service

PAC-UK’s Child & Family Service has extensive experience in all aspects of supporting families with adopted children or otherwise permanently placed children.

We have specific expertise in providing assessments and therapeutic interventions to families whose children experienced developmental trauma prior to their adoption/permanent placement. Available services include:

Visit the Child & Family Service page on the PAC-UK website for more information.

Education Service

PAC-UK’s Education Service offers a range of services to enable schools, parents and guardians and education and social care professionals to meet the needs of children who have experienced difficult starts in life. As an education provider you can use Pupil Premium Plus to purchase any of our specialist education services:

  • e-Learning training for education professionals on attachment: a self-guided route to becoming an adoption friendly school
  • Training & Consultation for education providers, adoptive parents and carers
  • London Education Advice Line
  • Education Resources

Visit the Education Service page on the PAC-UK website for more information.

Private Intermediary Service

FamilyConnect Advice Line

Our dedicated FamilyConnect Advice Line (0300 1800 205) supports adult adoptees, their descendants and birth relatives who wish to reconnect with their relatives – this line is open Monday 4.00pm to 7.00pm (excluding bank holidays), Tuesday 11.00am to 2.00pm and Thursday 1.00pm to 4.00pm. You can also email your enquiry to [email protected].

A Specialist Service 

We provide specialist advice, guidance, tracing and intermediary services to support everyone affected by adoption. If you are an adult adoptee or a birth relative who wishes to reconnect with someone lost to adoption our Private Intermediary Service can:

  1. Trace who you are trying to find and make the first contact on your behalf
  2. Negotiate an outcome that balances your needs and those of others involved
  3. Where contact is wanted, support all parties through the initial stages
  4. Offer specialist guidance throughout (our intermediaries have a wealth of experience in this complex area)
  5. Provide support where contact is not wanted and discuss ‘what next’

One of the key benefits of using a PAC-UK intermediary is the careful preparation that’s undertaken. Making an approach in this way shows your relative that you have their welfare in mind; our intermediary will provide support not just to you, but also to the person approached who may not feel able to confide in anyone else.

In the first instance, we recommend you contact our FamilyConnect Advice Line (0300 1800 205 / [email protected]) for a discussion about your particular situation and for information about the costs of the service.


On 3 April 2020 services delivered by Adoption Services for Adults (ASFA), including the management of the Norcap Contact Register (NCR) transferred to Family Action, and will now be delivered by PAC-UK.

This means we can check the NCR for links on behalf of adopted adults and their relatives, and can also take registrations from new applicants. For all NCR enquiries email [email protected] or call our FamilyConnect Advice Line on 0300 1800 205.

PAC-UK Training

Every year PAC-UK offers a comprehensive training programme focusing on adoption and permanent placement specific topics. Some of these workshops and seminars are for professionals only, and some are specifically for parents and carers. Public seminars and conferences are open to all parties affected by adoption and permanency, including professionals.

Visit the Training Service page on the PAC-UK website for more information.

Contact Details


Find us

PAC-UK London Office: Family Action Head Office, 34 Wharf Road, London, N1 7GR

PAC-UK Leeds Office: Hollyshaw House, 2 Hollyshaw Lane, Leeds, LS15 7BD

Office: 0300 1800 085 Advice Line: 0300 1800 090

Website: www.pac-uk.org
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PACUKadoption
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PACUKAdoption
YouTube: www.youtube.com/PACAdoptionSupport