PROSPECTIVE adopters were urged to come forward last week and provide a permanent home for children.

National Adoption Week 2000, organised by the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, aimed to recruit more people to look after the UK's 5,000 children waiting for new families.

One such couple who have helped to fill the gap are Nick and Carrie Quine of Combe Down in Bath.

Nick, a police officer, and Carrie, a former schoolteacher, adopted two children nine years ago.

They found the experience to be so rewarding that they have since acted as foster parents to more than 30 other children of all ages.

Carrie said: "Some people think the process can be invasive but we found the social workers were very friendly and we accepted they had to know everything about us.

"The process took about a year and a half with police checks, references and a medical to make sure the children are set for a whole new life with the right people.

"These children have been through an awful lot already, so we understand how social workers have to be sure everything will be safe and sound."

Carrie added: "We get such a sense of satisfaction from watching people grow up and develop into well-rounded adults.

"We decided to start fostering as well because we knew lots of people in social services and knew what a great demand there was for homes.

"Some people ask how you can look after children as if they were your own whilst knowing they will be put up for adoption.

"However, we still get to see them afterwards as we are encouraged to maintain contacts as it's good for children to know about their past."

Nick said: "You can never wipe out what has happened in the past but we know that we can make a difference.

"Everyone has problems bringing up children but I can honestly say that, apart from getting married, adoption and fostering have been the greatest things we have ever done."

Claire Cooper, manager of the Bath and North East Somerset Family Placement Team, hopes the week will have achieved its purpose of recruiting more families.

She said: "We particularly want to find families for older children, groups of brothers and sisters who need to live together, disabled children, as well as children from minority ethnic backgrounds.

"We want to encourage more people to come forward to consider adoption because we need adopters of all ages and from all backgrounds and ethnicities to meet the needs of a wide range of children.

"We urge anyone considering adoption to get in touch with us today."

Anyone interested in adopting a child should contact the duty officer on 01225 395332.