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Hallo sweetheart! You won’t believe this but I was thinking about you a couple of weeks ago and wondered where you were and how you were. Big hug, my friend.

I wasn't in the club but I remember seeing your posts when I was in my early days here. Welcome back. Hope some folks can give you advice on your concerns. Best Wishes Pingu

You will find many Turquoise people and a great deal of support in The Potato Group: P---- EMAIL REDACTED ---- They’re waiting to hear from you, old friend.

I very rarely post here now as am in another support group. I am very sorry to hear of your worries about your grandchild. I don't have personal experience but there are many old friends over in the POTATO group including some who will be able to offer advice. Please get in touch.

Turquoise person here too. I remember your name. We have another generation too ranging from1 to 8 in age. If you want to.pm please do. Johanna

hello sweetie, yes I was a blue member, and yes I am too a grandparent of four boys, and yes we shared the odd fag or two when you dropped me off at a train station, what can I do for you. xx

I will send a PM

ham here I too am on potato. hugs

I am still here, would also advise the potato group. It’s lovely to see you here again but sorry about the rubbish circumstances

Unfortunately the Potato Group clearly states for adopted children from the UK. I don't understand this. Many teens were adopted as babies/toddlers/ children from children's homes from abroad. Are their families not struggling with early trauma? If there is some particular reason other than this was not approved of, I'd love to hear it...

Fenwick - I think you have misunderstood the wording on the website. POTATO supports adoptive parents that are UK-based. It doesn't matter where their children were adopted from. The website wording means supports adopters in the UK, not adopters of children from the UK. Although I can see where the misunderstanding has come from - the wording probably could be clarified.

I adopted in the UK but now live in another countrty...does that mean I can't join?

It would mean that, unless you could arrange a meet up. Potato Group vets any potential new members and by that I mean they arrange a meet up with existing members. The aim is to ensure the groups safety and security. Seems a very sensible option to me - this way the groups confidentiality is maintained. I’ve been - briefly - on other groups which don’t take security as seriously and have seen posters being harangued by birth parents etc who mostly definitely were not pro adoption.

The thing is that today everything is online and so is so international and so you have people from all over the world joining. I am on several closed Facebook groups which have attracted people from mainly the USA, Australia, new Zealand. It can be confusing when they ask questions or make comments about things which are not relevant in the UK. That's not a problem if you are in a dog breed group for example but it is when it comes to adoption. So I think that potato group is explaining that it's for UK adopters to keep the rest of the world's adopters on more relevant support groups but maybe it hasn't been worded very well.

Contacted the Potato Group , requesting clarification. See response, I think this will encourage more people to access support which they undoubtedly give. "Although grammatically correct, the first line on our website could cause confusion and the committee are planning on making changes so that there wil be no further confusion. We provide peer to peer support to adopters who live in the UK with their adopted children, teens or adults (20's). We support adopters who parent at a distance. We also support adopters that may live overseas but whose adopted young adults continue to live in the UK. "

Just popped on to see this. I think the POTATO has to focus on people who live in or who’s kids live in the UK. I guess they can’t do everything. Fenwick, good news re wording.

Tbh people can get together and support who they like. I'm sure there is a Christian adoption Facebook group. There are LGBT groups. Auk makes it clear that it's got something to do with the uk in the name but other groups have to spell it out. Sounds to me like potato group sees itself as focusing on a particular group and why not?

Pluto, if you feel there’s a gap out there for adopters in your particular circumstances, I guess you could always do what Potato founders did and set up your own support group? Maybe that’s what’s needed?

It has been clearly stated that The Potato Group is very hot on confidentiality and keeping people safe. For that reason they arrange face to face meetings with potential members. If people are based in the UK, that can be done. If people are based overseas then that isn’t possible. I cannot see why that’s so difficult for people to get their heads around.