Research call: Are you a single adoptive parent in the UK? Your voice is needed
- Megan Pleva
- Dec 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Some research projects exist to collect data. This is not one of them. This study comes from something deeply personal. It is being led by Walk Together founder, Susie James, who adopted as a single parent herself and knows first hand how many questions go unanswered, how many challenges are faced alone and how little the UK understands about what single adopters actually need.
Her PhD research project aims to change that. And your voice could genuinely shape the future of adoption support in the UK search project aims to change that. And your voice could genuinely shape the future of adoption support in the UK.
Why Susie is asking for your help
When Susie began her own adoption journey, she noticed something quickly. Very few services were designed with single adoptive parents in mind. Support was often geared toward two-parent households, and the unique pressures single adopters face were rarely acknowledged, let alone researched.
Over the years she has heard similar stories from parents across the UK, many navigating the process with quiet strength and very little targeted support. Some describe early help that fades too quickly. Others speak about being left to advocate alone when their child’s needs become more visible. Many question whether the system truly understands the realities of solo adoptive parenting.
This is why this research matters. It is personal. It is long overdue and it has the potential to influence how services evolve for years to come.
What this research hopes to change
Susie’s study asks a simple but powerful question... is post adoption support for single parents meeting their needs, and if not, where does it fall short?
By gathering real lived experiences, this project aims to build evidence that can:
Highlight gaps that single parents currently face
Strengthen the case for tailored support
Influence how social workers and professionals are trained
Push for more consistency in services after the adoption order
Create a more accurate understanding of what single parent families need at every stage
This is not just research for the sake of research. It's the first step in reshaping how single adopters are understood, supported and valued within the wider adoption landscape.
The critiera for who we’re hoping to speak to:
If any of the following applies to you, your voice would make a genuine difference. The criteria is as below:
You adopted as a single parent
You were single when you adopted, even if your circumstances have changed since. You may have biological children or you may not. Either way, your experience matters.
You adopted through a UK agency or local authority
You must be living in the UK and have completed your adoption through the UK system.
You are open to a one hour online conversation
The study involves a confidential interview on Microsoft Teams. It is one off, entirely voluntary and arranged at a time that works for you. Interviews are expected to begin in March 2026 once final ethics approval from the University of Bradford is complete.
Your privacy always comes first
Susie is committed to creating a safe, confidential space for every participant. All personal details will be stored securely, and any identifying information will be removed from transcripts and final reporting. Nothing you share will ever be connected back to you.
This research follows University of Bradford ethical and GDPR standards. You can withdraw at any point and you are in control of your story.
Why your story could change the future of adoption
Single adoptive parents often describe the same themes:
Feeling invisible within a two parent model.
Navigating behaviour linked to early trauma without enough support.
Gaps between what services promise and what they can offer.
Challenges accessing therapeutic help.
Moments of isolation when the system assumes you can cope alone.
These experiences deserve to be seen and heard. More importantly, they deserve to shape change. Your insight could influence how future single adopters prepare for parenthood, how professionals design support, how local authorities think about post adoption needs and how adoption as a whole evolves in the years ahead. Even one interview can help build a stronger, more accurate picture for the next generation of families.
Would you like to take part?
If you meet the criteria, or if you know a single adoptive parent who might want to be involved, Susie would love to hear from you. You can register your interest, ask questions or request more information using the contact details on our website.
This research belongs to single adopters. It's shaped by your voice, your experience and your insight. With your help, it could change the future of adoption for families across the UK.
Speak soon,
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