Archived Forums

Yes I am, and yes I think I get value for money. I love the magazine, and I like knowing there is support available.Although I haven't had the need to use it yet, I like to think I am contributing in a teeny tiny way to my fellow adopters who are having a tough time and need some help.My mum bought me my membership as my Christmas present

I am a paid up too. This is a question I have put to AUK on a number of occassions when the lack of money/resources response to private boards gets rolled out.

I am not at the moment, they did send me a reminder via e-mail but to be honest there was so much going on here that I just never got round to renewing it.

my adoption agency are currently funding my membership. however, i will cease to be a member when this payment stops as i have limited funds and i need to spend them on floreana. i do not get an adoption allowance. if i did i would pay for membership. i have used the boards more than i have used the membership zone. the boards are free and provide a wealth of info.

I am a paid up member. I get a lot of support from the boards and if everyone stops paying they will cease to exist. Nixie

We are members and I think it is well worth supporting AUK.We do have some misgivings though, and not sure about the 'by adopters and for adopters' description. Don't know all the ins and outs but as there are links with LAs I believe, then I think there may be a conflict of interests

I am. Our local Adoption UK has been the only effective post adoption support we've had (locally - these boards have been invaluable too). It's a small team, very approachable and they work hard to support adopters on very limited resources. They're all adoptive parents so really understand the issues.Ceci

Paid up member - think AUK is worth supporting and was a great support to us during a very difficult time

We are members as local sw paid for it. We looked at the child ads in the ally days and applied re a few.Used the helpline once , they were very helpful. Useful articles in magazine, but these boards are the best of all the AUK qervices

I am fully paid up memberI can see why people who have been here from early days are concerned about some issues and can understand the frustration of those wanting private message boards but for me - the training events and conferences I have been to has been very helpul and these boards were far more effective than prep courses in preparing me for the reality of adoption. Its my contribution

Paid member. Mostly because I set of a direct debit and it is renewed before I can really think about it The only thing I really use are these boards - hardly ever look at the rest of the website. Events tend to be too far away for me. I browse the magazine intending to read more later but never get around to it. Have been to a few local meets but didn't enjoy them; haven't needed the helpline so far.I did subscribe to CWW during HS and before we were linked, found that useful to develop our ideas as to what children we could parent.

"set of"? "set up"!My fingers don't do what I tell them to do anymore!

As a volunteer for AUK, I get free membership - but as DH works, I felt a bit guilty about this, so we pay a small sum by direct debit to AUK and as its in his name the government do the tax back thing! I agree that everything isn't right, though AUK working with our LA is how I found out more about AUK and eventually became more involved, so don't have a particular issue with that. But nothing is completely perfect and I'm more of a change from the inside sort of person.

I'm not a member any more.I used to be, when I was approved but didn't have dd.Then dd was placed and my LA paid the subscription.I didn't renew when that ran out - I realised I didn't gain anything useful from anything other than these boards - which I would happily join and contribute for. However, as these boards are archaic, have never been updated since I joined, and it's virtually impossible to get responses from mods to questions asked on these boards (actual responses, not just a press release type thing, or repeat of previous responses that never actually answers a question or enters into a discussion with members), I got disillusioned and decided not to pay until things changed here.

I ended my membership. In the old days (when we did not have the boards) I loved the PPIAS magazine and was actively involved with a local support group. I don't find the annual conference relevant to me as my children are grown up. I think the message boards are really helpful but feel resentful about the failure to provide private boards. I no longer enjoy the magazine. On one occasion I used the helpline and they were helpful. I see no point in being a member any more.Lily

Not a paid member, I have never been. I do like to look at these boards but would not pay to do so. As for anything else, to be honest I am not sure what support AUK could give me.

I am because I like receiving the magazine and also subscribe to CWW at the moment

I'm a paid up member. If it wasn't for their advice I don't think my 2 would be here.I think the boards are invaluble and they have to be funded somehow. The magazine is helpful. DD won't read a book on adoption but he does read the magazine and have the odd light bulb feelingThat said I do have concerns about the way AUK is going. As long as the price doesn't go up too much I will continue to pay.

I am a paid up member at present but I do find that the support I get is only through the board. We have no local AUK group near enough for me to sensibly access & have had no other input from AUK throughout the entire time of the membership.