The effect of the current recession is putting people off adopting, fears of redundancy and economic instability is forcing people to hold of for the time being:

The potential adopters, some of whom had already started attending adoption preparation groups, told the agency that fears about job prospects and finances had compelled them to delay their plans.

Others felt unable to continue with the adoption process after being made redundant.

Norman Goodwin, chief executive of Adoption Matters Northwest, said the problem had been reported across Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, North Wales and Greater Manchester, where there are currently 600 children hoping to be adopted

via Children & Young People Now