Memories made digital for adopted children

A North East tech innovation supporting children in care is expanding to help adopted young people stay connected with their past.

Virtual Memory Box – a secure digital tool designed to preserve memories – is now being piloted with Adopt North East to support communication between adopted young people and their birth families, with the aim of rolling it out across other regional adoption agencies (RAAs).

Developed by Newcastle-based software company Nebula Labs and first piloted with South Tyneside Council, the platform has proven its value for children in care.

Local authorities across England are now signed up as partners, offering the platform to thousands of looked after children.

Nik Flavell, head of service for Adopt North East, said: “We know from research and through talking to young people that they would much prefer to use a digital tool to share and receive information about their family to help them develop and understand their identity.

“We are really excited to be the first RAA to partner with Virtual Memory Box to develop a secure, efficient and user-friendly tool specifically for those involved in adoption. 

“We already work with North Tyneside Council who use Virtual Memory Box to support their young people in care, so we know the positive impact it has had there – and we think it will be a game changer for us.”

Christian Brock, managing director at Virtual Memory Box added: “We are delighted to be working with Adopt North East on this development – our aim is to make Virtual Memory Box as accessible and useful for as many looked after children and their carers as possible. 

“We are working with many local authorities across the country to make it easy for young people in care, and the adults in their life, to keep precious memories safe and secure. 

“Now, to be working with Adopt North East and other RAAs nationwide is the next logical and exciting step in our mission.”

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