Birth Parent Support Assistant

Joan began working with ARC Adoption in January 2021 as a Birth Parent Support Assistant, both supporting and offering advice to birth families who have had, or are about to have their children adopted. A very interesting and important role, Joan enjoys both the challenges and rewards that it brings.

Joan has worn many hats over the years prior to joining ARC, notably working for an agency for British Coal computing pensions for retired pitmen, and even visiting Wearmouth Colliery, travelling miles underground and out into the North Sea – a scary but interesting experience!

Joan then worked for Sunderland Council (Together for children) for 25 years as the After Adoption Post Box Administrator, supporting birth family members before, during and after adoption, a role that she thoroughly enjoyed.

If she wasn’t busy enough, Joan has operated a mini coach company with her husband alongside her other roles, often driving the coaches herself, for school runs, airport runs, stag and hen parties, weddings, christenings, funerals and nightclub events. 

Joan is happily married to Stephen, and has three children and six grandchildren who keep them really busy. When not at work, you will find Joan with her grandchildren, working in the garden or helping her husband down at his allotment where he not only cultivates lots of lovely home grown produce, but has around 150 hens and chickens. Joan and her husband love to holiday abroad having visited many parts of world, Thailand being their favourite place.