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Adoption Advocation: How I learnt to advocate for myself and others. By Molly

Hi everyone, I’m Molly a student at the University of Sheffield studying English Literature and Philosophy. When I’m not doing work both for Adopteens and my degree, you could find me crocheting or at the swimming pool. I have found my own sense of belonging through advocating, and it might be something that you resonate with too. I’m also on LinkedIn as Molly Hudson, you can connect with me here.

Molly, a student at the University of Sheffield

When I was 13 I joined Adopteens. Adopteens is a service through which Adopted teenagers can access peer support through fun activity days and take part in voice and influence. I was very uncomfortable talking about myself as an adopted person. I didn’t really know how to accept that adoption is the lens through which I experience the world.

From there, I joined the youth council and the Adopt A Change project. The youth council has made lots of leaflets, short films and booklets all about adoption. We use our youth voice to influence the world of adoption. One of our films was even nominated for a charity film award.

The Adopt A Change Project is a full day’s training which is designed by adopted people to show professionals what they can be doing better and to give them the resources to do so. I have always been outspoken. My fun fact in school was that I was adopted. Though, I never had the skills or the knowledge to turn my traumas, my successes into something more than just my existence.

Molly delivering at a conference

Over the 6 years I have been working with adopteens, I have been contacted by the BBC to create an animated short film for PSHE and teacher training. I have delivered at conferences alongside my other Adopteens members. It was all quite exciting, how many 14 year-olds can say they delivered workshops to 120 professionals?

The support I was given was absolutely perfect. Speaking about adoption has helped me heal and come to terms with many parts of my story. While I am not miraculously fixed by the wonders of peer support, it has helped me beyond anything else I have tried. You can’t change a system without developing relationships within it. I want to connect and know every single care-experienced individual because thinking together and making change together works so much better than on our own.

For me, this meant getting a meeting with the CEO of Adoption UK. It has taken me 6 years to build the foundations I needed for this. Though I must admit, it kinda happened by accident. Sometime last year, I reached out to the CEO of Adoption UK, as I saw that she did a very similar degree to me. We spoke briefly about how she got to the position she did and what lessons she learnt. Fast forward to the production of the Adoption Barometer report 2026. I always get excited when the report comes out…

Molly: Training Facilitator for Adopt A Change project

…though, this year I was disappointed to see that they had really struggled with engagement of adopted people within the survey, out of 3500 respondents 451 were adoptees, 50% of which were adopted before 1976! Which shocked me that they seemingly neglected the views of adopted young people. I posted my thoughts on Linkedin – my personal favourite place for adoption related news and opportunities. I had forgotten that the CEO followed me after I reached out to her the previous year. I never thought in 100 years that she would reply to me asking to organise a meeting to talk about what they could do to encourage more young people to fill out the survey.

I hope this proves that with determination, courage and the ability to make connections, change is possible and you can help make it happen. It can be quite frightening or anxiety-inducing to think about creating and organising change, but you have to remember you only share what you want to and only take what opportunities feel right!

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