Adoption and fostering

Birth records counselling

Westminster holds the adoption records of a defunct Adoption Agency the National Children Adoption Association (NCAA), which was situated in Knightsbridge until its closure in 1978.

If you are an adopted person/ Counsellor or birth parent or other relative of an adopted person please telephone 020 7641 6301 for further information.

We also provide a counselling service to adults who were looked after by the City of Westminster and counselling will be carried out by the Looked after Team on 020 7641 4368 or 4372.

Why counselling?

All people adopted before 12 November 1975 are required to attend an interview with a counsellor before being given information, which will lead them to the original birth certificate (except those who were adopted in Scotland).

People adopted after that date have the option of counselling, but will have to see someone if they wish to have access to their file/records. Counselling is arranged either at the Family Record Centre, 1 Myddleton Street, London, EC1 RUW or at the Adoption Society which arranged the adoption, or at the Social Services Department of the Local Authority in which the adopted person is living.

Since October 1991 people adopted in the UK but living abroad can receive counselling in the country in which they live. You should check with your Social Services who are accredited to provide counselling in your State etc. As the register of accredited persons is constantly being updated, you may need to write to ONS (address below), to find out who is providing this service. You should then apply to ONS giving details of the body or organisation that has agreed to do counselling.

We do not supply any information relating to birth records to adoptees under 18 unless; it is requested by the adoptive parents in the context of post adoption support.

Adoptive parents wishing to approach us on this basis should write to the Team Manager, New Families Team.

Birth parents and other birth relatives (or their representatives)

We Offer an intermediary service for birth relatives in partnership with the Children's society for further information please write to:

Team Manager
New Families Team
1st Floor
4, Frampton Street
London NW8 8LF

General birth records enquiries

If you were not adopted through Westminster or the NCAA please contact:

The Office of National Statistics / Adoption section
Smedley Hydro
Trafalgar road
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2HH
Web: http://www.ons.gov.uk
Tel: 0151 471 4313

Other useful addresses:

Adoption Contact Register
Cherry Cottage
Brailsford
Derbyshire
DE6 3DA

National Organisation for the Counselling of Adoptees and Parents
NORCAP
122 Church Road
Wheatley
Oxfordshire
OX33 1LU
Web: http://www.norcap.org.uk/ 

The Office of National Statistics / (ACR)
Trafalgar road
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2HH
Web: http://www.ons.gov.uk
Tel: 0151 471 4313