THE 10th National Adoption Week begins tomorrow and aims to find families for up to 4,000 children. DEBBIE WAITE meets 10-year-old Jon, who has found a loving home in Oxfordshire with Caroline and Roger Sitting in the cosy front room, it's immediately obvious that a little boy lives here.

There is a line of toy cars parked along the hearth, a bow and arrow and board games at the side of the sofa.

And across the hallway is a bedroom with bunk beds, posters and more toys.

When 10-year-old Jon bursts in through the front door, he is still in his sports kit, and has muddied knees.

Mum Caroline gives him a big kiss and asks how his day was, before going into the kitchen to make him a milkshake.

Dad Roger comes in behind, having spent the last hour or so cheering on his son from the touchline.

If you didn't know better, you might think Caroline and Jon look alike.

But Jon is in fact adopted and is anxious to tell me how wonderful life is with his new mum and dad.

He said: "It felt a bit weird when I first came to live here.

"I was five and had been living with a foster mother who I really liked. I didn't know where my new house would be, or my new school, so when mum and dad first came to my foster home I hid.

"I suppose I was a little bit scared. But we went to the park and I liked them a lot.

"We went out together in the days after that and then I came here to visit and then stayed the night before coming to live here for good."

He added: "I didn't call them mum and dad to start with, I called them by their first names because I wanted to make sure they were going to keep me.

"Things were different at this house. We had to eat at the table and I never had to do that before. They also ate lots of different foods I'd never eaten before.

"Lots of people also came to see me here when I arrived. They are now my family, but then I didn't know who they were and I couldn't remember all their names at first.

"Mum and dad had bought me a Paddington Bear and also made me a Welcome Book, filled with pictures of the house, my room and all the places near where we live. It also told me all about them."

Asked whether he is happy with his new mum and dad, Jon is all smiles.

He said: "We go on lovely holidays and once, I got up two hours too early to leave for a holiday, because I was so excited. I had never really been on a proper holiday before.

"I used to worry a lot that they would get divorced or split up, but now I know they would never leave me.

"I would like more boys and girls like me to get new mums and dads like I have."

Caroline and Roger are in their late 40s.

Caroline, who works in PR, grew up with an adopted brother and has several adopted cousins.

Roger is a former welder, but now works part time, devoting the rest of his week to caring for Jon and running the family home.

Caroline said: "I suppose I'd always wanted to adopt. My brother was adopted from a baby and even my dolls were 'adopted'. Even so, it wasn't until Roger and I had been married for nine years, in 2002, that we decided to look into it.

"We told Pact (Parents and Children Together) that we'd consider a child with behavioural problems, but that we didn't feel able to take a child with disabilities.

"Because we were older, we were surprised when we were recommended for such a young child. But the laws of adoption have changed so much in recent years to encourage adopters of all ages and backgrounds, including single people."

Caroline and Roger were offered several children.

Caroline said: "We locked the door, sat down and over a few days, read the profiles of 16 little boys awaiting adoption. It was heart- wrenching and at that point, we would have gladly taken them all.

"But we whittled down the details we were given to three little boys, and eventually it was Jon who really shone out for us.

"We met his social worker and learned he was doing well at school and had a strong character, and that his family wanted to retain contact.

"That didn't bother us and visits were arranged."

She added: "The adoption process is always described as 'stressful' but we never felt overly stressed by it.

"On the way to meet him for the first time, we were full of trepidation and nerves, of course. But I think that was mainly because we knew he was a vulnerable little boy and we wanted to protect him.

"From the start it was obvious that he wasn't just going to give his heart to anyone - he had been very hurt.

"But, for us, he was the one, and four years on, he is and always will be our son.

"For a while, he would ask me if Roger and I were always going to stay together.

"Now I feel he has really given his heart to us.

"I would recommend adoption to anyone who can offer a child a loving home.

"You have to give it your all, it's definitely not a hobby, and you have to have strong boundaries, as well as lots of love to give.

"But the rewards are lifelong."

Jon was placed with Caroline and Roger by Parents and Children Together (Pact), a professional agency working on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Oxford.

A key player in the fields of adoption and fostering. Pact runs regular, informal information evenings in Oxford for people who are interested in finding out about adoption.

The next session takes place on Thursday, November 15. People interested in attending should call 0800 731 1845, or visit www.pactcharity.org Adopters must be over 21 and be able to provide a permanent, stable and caring home. It doesn't matter whether you are married or single, in or out of work, or whatever your race, religion, or sexuality.

There is no upper age limit, and it does not matter if you have a disability. From January 2006, unmarried couples in England and Wales are now able to apply to adopt jointly.