Letterbox Contact Information

The expectation is that the adoptive parents write first at the beginning of the agreed month. The letters don’t have to be written in any particular way but these are some suggestions for the beginning, middle and end.

Beginning

Start the letter with the first name of the adult you’re writing to:

• ”Dear Ally” if known or;
• “To Daniel’s birth parents"

Middle, what to include

• The child’s health and development
• Their personality, habits, sayings and mannerisms
• Likes and dislikes
• Their friendships
• Progress at school
• Interests and talents
• Holidays and major events
• On the child’s behalf you may wish to ask questions of the birth family
• You may wish to include some information about your activities as a family or about your feelings about being a parent to the children

End

When you sign the letter just use your first name or alternatively e.g. “Aisha’s adoptive parents”.

DO NOT include

• Your surname or any contact details in the letter
• Letterbox cannot accept the exchange of gifts, vouchers or money because we cannot be held responsible for these items. We are unable to pass such items on
• Do not send things which are not part of the arrangement e.g. photos and particularly no school photos
• Details of frequent social activity or identifying location (e.g. names of school, church etc. holiday details)
• Information on a life threatening incident/condition such as an accident or serious illness. This should be shared with letterbox administrators or duty social workers and then it can be decided on how to pass this information on to the birth family

If letters received are unsuitable the Letterbox administrators may need to contact you to offer support and advice

Sample letter

• Sample letter for adoptive parents to birth family

Sending your letter

By post

Put your letter in an envelope with the child’s birth name and date of birth on the envelope. This envelope should be sent in a larger envelope with a covering note including your name and present address, contact telephone number and email address. Address this larger envelope to the address below​:

By email

Include the child’s birth name and date of birth in the email. Attach all relevant documents and your letters to an email and send to the email address below.

Contact us

• Telephone: 0121 303 1010

Email letterbox administration