THIS National Adoption Week (October 18 to 23), Adopt South is seeking a permanent, loving, and compassionate family life for two special little girls who sadly cannot live with their birth family.

Issy will be four years old in the new year, and Evie is two and a half years old. The sisters have blonde hair and blue eyes, both with big bubbly smiles who enjoy being out and about, playing with their dollies in their pram, and learning at nursery.

In their very early years, both Issy and Evie were not looked after as well as they could have been. They are currently with an experienced and nurturing foster carer who is used to looking after children who need additional support.

Issy enjoys playing with a range of different toys and likes going to nursery. She can at times react in a way that is much younger than her actual age. This is linked to a delay in her overall development, which could have been due to her early experiences.

At times, Issy can feel scared or confused as she cannot always work out what is the best thing to do. During these times she can become upset and sometimes angry. Issy settles down when she is comforted through emotional warmth and cuddles.

Issy’s foster carer says: “Issy can be an adorable little girl who has made amazing progress in the last year. She will spend hours talking and playing with her dolls and pushing her pram around the house. Her favourite film is Disney’s Frozen. She needs a lot of comfort from a loving parent (or parents) who will have the time to soothe and help develop her confidence so she can flourish.”

Issy finds it difficult to settle before bed, and her foster carer spends time making her feel relaxed by comforting her before she falls asleep. Sometimes she has nightmares and needs lots of reassurance and encouragement to settle again. Issy likes a daily routine, and always has the same plate at mealtimes, eating a good variety of different foods including fruit and vegetables.

Little Evie is just beginning to explore everything. She loves being outside in the garden, playing with the family dogs and being with people who can give her lots of time, cuddling her, listening to her, and reading bedtime stories. She too has experienced distress at the start of her life and finds it difficult to know how to feel and express herself.

The girls play together very nicely at times, and often follow each other around the house. Sometimes their relationship can be challenging; they can often compete for attention, which can lead to one of them being very unkind to the other. Their foster carer has helped them in many ways to reduce scuffles, which a lot of young siblings have.

Adopt South is the regional adoption agency for the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton local authorities.

Rachel Reynolds, head of Adopt South, said: “Issy and Evie are lovely little girls who have been through experiences that most children their age would not have been exposed to, which makes them feel very vulnerable at times.

“The girls need a family life where their adoptive parent(s) will have an understanding or experience working or caring for children with additional needs, or within a community or faith where they are fully supported with family and friendship groups around them.

“Issy and Evie need the time, commitment and love to develop into happy and confident girls. Adopt South is committed to supporting the girls and their adoptive parent(s) throughout their childhood journey whenever they need it. We are here to help children like Issy and Evie thrive and be happy as they grow up.”

Adopt South provides a range of therapeutic services to adoptive parents and children, as well as financial support for some children and sibling groups who might need extra help. Despite the lockdown, this year 77 children were matched with Adopt South forever families, ranging from new-borns, older children, and sibling groups, to children with additional needs and disabilities. Currently there are eight sibling groups: seven sets of two children, and one sibling group of three waiting for a forever home.

If you would like to know more about Issy and Evie, or about adoption, please call Adopt South on 0300 3000 011 or visit their social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.