Renfrewshire Council

Support for birth parents and families (Birth Connections)

Birth Connections is for birth parents, or member of a birth family, who have a child who has been adopted. We provide peer support, life skills, health & wellbeing advice and community.

Our team are here to support birth parents and families at whatever stage you're at, whether the loss happened years ago or more recently. We provide safe places to talk about your experiences through peer support groups, as well as individual support tailored to your needs.

The birth parents we currently support have told us how isolating it can feel to have a child removed from their care. Our Birth Connections team is here for you. Support is flexible, tailored to you, and covers a range of advice and support.



What support the Birth Connections service can provide

Support is adapted on an individual basis, depending on what specific needs you have. Below are examples of some of the ways we can help. 

  • Peer support groups
  • Individual support
  • Support with letterbox contact
  • Help to contribute to life story work, to support your child in their understanding of themselves
  • Help with life admin, such as ID cards and applications
  • Advice on coping with trauma and loss
  • Access to other health and wellbeing services
  • Practical advice around life skills, mental health and physical wellbeing

How to get in touch

If you are a birth parent, or member of a birth family, you can self-refer to Birth Connections. If you want to talk to someone, please get in touch with the team at birthconnections@renfrewshire.gov.uk 

If you are currently in contact with the Council's adoption team, you can ask your social worker to put you in touch with us.