Potato Group Set to Publish Research

In May 2024, The Potato Group, in partnership with The Belay Foundation, hosted a unique conference for professionals, presenting the lived experiences of families caring for traumatised adopted children.

The title of the conference, Far, Far Beyond the Adoption Order: Lessons from Lives Impacted by Trauma, referenced Julie Selwyn’s seminal study for the Department for Education (DfE), Beyond the Adoption Order: Challenges, Interventions and Adoption Disruption (Selwyn et al., 2014).

The conference steering group commissioned two research projects: a membership survey and a qualitative research study. These were presented at the event, alongside a series of documentary films sharing the lived experiences of adopting and caring for traumatised adopted teenagers and adults. The research was carried out by independent social researchers and POTATO members. Since the conference, our research has been prepared and peer-reviewed, and will soon be published under the same title.

This research is unique. It could only have been undertaken by The Potato Group because of the insight and experiences of our members. It doesn’t just present statistics. It tells the stories behind them. It draws on the honest, often painful experiences of 438 adoptive families across the UK who stepped forward to speak out. Together, they represent the reality of parenting through trauma, of navigating systems that often don’t understand, and of holding on when support is limited or missing.

The findings are stark, but also hopeful. The report highlights what needs to change, and what can help. It shines a light on the expertise that comes from lived experience and offers clear, practical recommendations for improving how education, health, social care and justice systems respond to our children.

This research is for policymakers, professionals and decision-makers. But it is also for families like ours. It is a reminder that we are not alone, and that together, our voices can drive real change.

We’ll be sharing more soon, including how to access the report and how to join the conversation. For now, we want to thank our researchers, and every parent who took part, whose courage and insight will help shape a better future.

For more information, and to be added to our research mailing list, please contact us here.