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All perfectly normal. Look at scouts, rainbows, nurseries, Reading in schools, football clubs, contact centres etc. Think about age .. what age child are you thinking of. Weight - they’ll want to see that you are attempting to lose weight - club, exercise etc.

Both perfectly normal and both achievable, as Donatella says volunteer for something, Cubs, Brownies, rainbows, school, contacts centres, etc. Do you enjoy doing a activity that has a junior section, tennis groups, stuff like that. Weight loss, look at healthy eat, keep a food diary, get some exercise in, I lost three half stone before panel, sadly put all of it back on since adoption.

Schools are always looking for reading (and probably other) volunteers and they like to have people from the community getting involved as well as parents. Good luck, let us know how you get on! Xx

The NHS weight loss app (programme) is good. It’s 12-week “change of attitude towards food, drinks and activities” programme that focuses on developing a healthier life style rather than on losing weight only. It has links to other apps such as “couch to 5k” and “low calories recipes” apps and exercises podcasts. You can also join the community of weight fighters. You can save your progress and show it to your SW. Just a thought. Best wishes, A

Totally normal... I'm doing the same thing at present. We are spending time taking out friends Grandchild. As for weight loss I'm using an app called nutracheck. I've joined the local gym and agreed they can release my measurements etc to SW to show progress if SW requests. It's all about helping us be the best supporters we can be of a child when/if we are sucessful.

Park runs are also a good idea as there’s a real mix of people and ages and are free - and you can start off walking! Volunteering in schools is a good idea as it’s gives you a bit of insight into how schools work and also quite good if you can get in one you might want to use - for lots of these you will need a DBS check but the organisation might do this for you and anyway will get that out of the way - try doing something with younger children too if you can - but lots of it is about understanding the range of children you might come across and the huge range of possible behaviours and needs.

Welcome to the world of hoops. There will be many put in your way you need to jump through, this is the first, it won’t be the last. Some make perfect sense and others are unfathomable but we take them on, go along with them, smile and do our best to satisfy whatever the SW wants. Exercise won’t help you loose weight by it’s self. Calorie restriction in some form is needed too. Cut out the Carbs and anything sweet. Focus on only eating before 7:00pm and no snacks, you’ll be amazed how quickly it comes off especially if getting children is the motivating reward. Most LA’s are looking for a formal child experience placement such as with an organised group rather than with family children. Most also want experience in the age group you hope to adopt.