01865 875000
Something that never went away
Reflections on adoption, being in care and searching for family members.
Edited by Perlita Harris with Chris Waterman
121 pages, ISBN 978-0-9509901-9-4
Reflections on adoption, being in care and searching for family members.
The experiences of people who have been personally affected by adoption or being in care are seldom heard. Rarely are they given a voice to say what this experience means to them and to describe their experience of seeking renewed contact with relatives - sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers - or being contacted by a relative from whom they have lost all contact.
Through poetry, art, memoir and autobiography, over thirty contributors tell it like it is. Something that never went away brings together the powerful and poignant testimonies of birth mothers, a birth father, adopted children, adopted adults, adults who have grown up in foster and residential care, and adoptive mothers. The poetry, artwork and prose are tender and touching, uplifting and, at times, heart-rending.
This highly original anthology brings together established writers, emerging writers and those who have never been published before, plus contributions from a range of celebrities including Kriss Akabusi, Jo Brand, Tracey Emin, David Gower, Lenny Henry, Richard Rogers, Alan Sillitoe, Clare Short, Meera Syal, Joanna Trollope, Gok Wan and Benjamin Zephaniah.
A number of established writers who are adopted or have been in care can also be found here. They include Nicole J Burton, Vanessa Gebbie, Valerie Mason-John, Zara H Phillips, Jacqueline Walker and Alex Wheatle. The artwork on the front cover is by birth mother, Lynne Byron, and inspired by her experience of relinquishing her baby to adoption.
Something that never went away is an important, informative and thought-provoking book for birth relatives, adopted adults, adults who have grown up in care, adoptive relatives and professionals providing adoption support and an access to in care or adoption records service.
Something that never went away was launched at the AAA-NORCAP fundraising lunch at the House of Commons on 30 November 2009. The event was chaired by the journalist and adopted adult, Kate Adie OBE and included a poetry reading by Lemn Sissay, poet in residence at the South Bank, who grew up in care and searched for his Ethiopian birth family as an adult. Other celebrities who attended included the writer, Alan Sillitoe, the poet, Ruth Fainlight, and the journalist and transnationally adopted adult, Hannah Pool.
"A complimentary copy of Something that never went away arrived yesterday, since then I have not put it down. What a fantastic book, such a magic read, I am SO impressed…, AAA-NORCAP must be very proud.
My brother JohnnyB has just telephoned me to say he has also received a copy of the book and is thrilled.
Be assured… you have made this Xmas very special for me, I will treasure my book and I am very excited about sending one of my ordered copies to my son in Australia.
A sincere thanks to …AAA-NORCAP and everyone who has been involved in Something that never went away"
Lynne Byron, birth mother
