On 19th January 2026, children’s charity Coram hosted an event to mark 100 years since the Adoption of the Children Act 1926 at the House of Lords. Organised by the Rt Hon. Baroness Butler-Sloss, the Rt Hon. Lord Russell of Liverpool and Janet Daby MP, the gathering of political figures, professional advisers and champions of good causes was done in part to urge the government to “ensure that adopted children and their families are given the support they need”, per Coram CEO Dame Carol Homden.
Natasha Grande and Neil Graham, co-founders of G&G Law, were honoured to have been invited to attend the evening. Other distinguished speakers at the event included Sir Andrew McFarlane, Baroness Butler-Sloss, Lord Simon Russell, Lord David Cameron and poet Luke Wright.
This event marked the start of Coram’s Centenary of Adoption programme, a series of events throughout 2026 bringing together professionals and families from other organisations as well as members of the public touched by adoption.
The Adoption of Children Act 1926
Legalising adoption as an official process for the first time in England and Wales, the Adoption of Children Act 1926 established a formal mechanism through which parental rights could be permanently transferred from birth parents to adoptive parents. The legislation provided a structured legal framework that helped to safeguard children’s welfare and professionalise adoption practice in the UK.
The Act introduced clear procedures for adoption orders, restrictions on applicants and criteria the courts needed to satisfy before approving an adoption. Adoptive parents gained full parental rights, while age requirements were set in place for who could adopt. These provisions helped standardise adoption nationwide and laid the groundwork for future reforms that strengthened child protection and legal clarity.
Widely recognised as a turning point in UK adoption history, the 1926 Act paved the way for modern adoption practice and the later creation of adoption agencies responsible for assessing and supporting prospective adopters. Its legacy is reflected in the continued development of adoption law throughout the 20th and into the 21st century, including reforms highlighted by organisations such as the Jigsaw Adoption Agency.
Coram’s work for children
Founded as the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children in the 18th century, Coram is the longest-established children’s charity in the UK. Today it does vital work around adoption as well as education and legal services for those in need.
As part of the Coram group of charities, the Children’s Legal Centre provides advice to parents on social services, housing, immigration law and many other areas. The CCLC manages the free-to-access Child Law Advice Service, which provided legal advice and guidance to 13,477 callers on the areas of family, education and child law in 2024/2025.
