Men often get forgotten in adoption but they have a significant role to play in the lives of vulnerable children, particularly boys.

ICM research we commissioned revealed that while women said they would prefer to adopt a girl over a boy, men would adopt boys over girls. There are more boys in care than girls and some boys are waiting longer than girls for families. We believe that if more men take the initiative to find out about adoption, there is a real opportunity to change the lives of many boys.

The ICM research also showed that over half (53%) of the people replying felt that the media portrayed boys in an overly negative way. Men felt this more than women, with 55% of men agreeing, compared to 50% of women.

There are around 4,000 children needing new families in the UK every year. Men could be an untapped pool of people that can make a huge contribution to the lives of some of the most disadvantaged children in the UK.

We know that fathers are important, and men can make a huge difference to children’s lives. This Father’s Day, we hope that we can get more men thinking and talking about the issue. It is a great opportunity to talk to your wife or partner, family and friends and consider whether you could offer a child a loving and permanent new home.