WORSENING economic conditions are putting couples off adopting, a Winchester agency has revealed.

The Catholic Children’s Society, in Bridge Street, says applications to adopt children have plummeted by 50 per cent this year.

Di Emery, team manager at the agency, said potential adopters are worried about how they would manage financially if they had more mouths to feed.

Initial enquiries to the multi-faith agency about adopting have also dropped sharply, from 89 in the first 10 months of 2007, to 52 over the same period this year.

Mrs Emery said: “In the current economic climate people are pulling their belts in, they’re thinking about everything they spend.

“Many of the children who are in urgent need of a permanent family are groups of brothers and sisters. “This, naturally, means that prospective adopters feel apprehensive about how they would manage financially.

“We want to highlight the fact that there are possible allowances, depending on circumstances, available to families — particularly those taking sibling groups or children with special needs.”

The society, which has been in Winchester 15 years and employs five social workers, said the drop in interest had not yet affected the number of children being found a home.

In the 2007/08 financial year, the charity — which will be renamed Cabrini Children’s Society from January — found homes for six children; since April 2008 it has placed 13 youngsters.

But Mrs Emery said there was a time lag and they would not see the results of fewer adopters coming forward for a year or so.

She added: “The reason why we want potential adopters to come forward is to ensure the children who are waiting end up in good homes and don’t have to spend a long time in the foster care system.

“There are a lot of children out there who have been abused or neglected who really need a new permanent family.

“We’re not looking for stereotypical people — if they feel they have got something to offer we’d like them to come forward, although clearly we’re looking for people in stable conditions.”

Mrs Emery was speaking to coincide with National Adoption Week, which runs until Sunday, November 16.

For more information call 01962 842024.