Has anyone out there ever tried to find a child that was adopted?

Thank you everyone. I have downloaded it, printed it and will get it off to her today.
If we find her daughter I will report back

fB is very worth trying too I have seen many people trying to find family members and it can be shared thousands of times and can be used as well as the more formal routes

Iam - I have very happy memories of working for the Catholic Children's Rescue Society; the staff were among the nicest I have ever worked with anywhere and the nuns who ran it were the epitome of kindness and compassion.
PamelaJ1 your first port of call should be www.gov.uk/adoption-records/the-adoption-contact-register then fill in the form: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/244016/Part_2_application_form.pdf. (There is a fee for this.)
Because your SinL has a life limiting illness it may be a good idea for her to write a letter in the event that her daughter doesn't get in touch soon. I agree with Iam about also getting in touch with the agency who placed the baby for adoption; under the circumstances they may agree to contact the adoptee and inform them of the situation.

The adoption register is the way to go. Your sister in law will probably remember which local authority/agency was involved in the adoption of her baby. Any information will help, did she register the birth, was the baby born in a Mother and Baby Unit, was a religious organisation involved. Our local Catholic Children's Rescue Society and CofE diocesan adoption teams have experienced workers involved in this type of work. A friend found the daughter she placed for adoption after giving birth in a Catholic Mother and Baby Unit aged 16 because she and her by then 40 years old daughter both registered with one of the agencies that specialist in helping in these situation.
I do hope your sister in law can be helped.

The Salvation Army do not help with people who were adopted.

Contact the Natural Parents Network
www.n-p-n.co.uk/. They are a charity run by and for birth parents and can advise.
This page tells you about the official intermediary services
www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/contact/intermediaries/questionsanswersrelatives.htm.
The Post Adoption Centre in London has a helpline who can give you appropriate advice and information. I believe they can also provide an intermediary service.
www.pac-uk.org/.
The government adoption register will only be helpful if both parties are on it.

Thank you granny knot, I did look for threads but couldn’t find one.

The government Adoption register is your best bet, I does depend on how old the adopted child is though .

And here's the detail that might help (copied from the thread):

Can I just say that for those mothers and siblings still looking for their family that the Government Adoption Register is how I made contact with my daughter. It is a service that puts families who register on it back in touch with each other, I registered 5 years ago, my daughter also used the service and within 4 weeks had my details, the officials contact the birth mother to confirm she wishes her contact details are given, and the rest as they say is history.

Here you go:

www.gransnet.com/forums/relationships/a1241691-Reunion-with-adopted-daughter

Pamela there was a recent thread on here about it. I will see if I can find it for you.

Oh, I'm not sure on that. Social services might be your best bet? Good luck! Hopefully someone will answer you who knows more than I do about the best way to go.

Do they try and find adopted children or just people who are missing?
I will try them. Thank you

Do any of the family use Facebook? Apparently it's a good way to find people
Is it the salvation army which will trace family members? I'm almost sure it is, though they charge for the service.