Charities welcome renewal of key adoption support fund after expiry

The Minister for Children and Families (pictured above) has confirmed an investment of £50 million to renew the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) over 2025-26.

The news from Janet Daby MP came following an urgent question in Parliament this week and is welcome relief to many families and professionals in the adoption and fostering sector who were deeply concerned about children losing access to vital therapeutic support after the Government allowed to “literally run out of time”.

While relieved that the fund has now been renewed, charities have expressed their widespread disappointment that the delay and lack of communication about the fund’s future has caused unnecessary stress.

“We remain deeply frustrated that this clarity has only come after the fund had expired and after a lengthy period of unnecessary uncertainty,” Charity Kinship said in a statement.

“The absence of any information about the future of the fund has led to immense worry and stress among the kinship families we support and campaign alongside. And even with today’s welcome news, there will be significant ongoing repercussions for kinship families, local authorities and therapeutic providers.”

The charity’s most recent annual survey found that 13% of kinship carers said they were concerned about their ability to continue caring for their kinship children, with three quarters of this group highlighting challenges managing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties as the main reason.

“Having experienced significant trauma, separation and loss, high-quality therapeutic support can make an immeasurable difference to the lives of children in kinship care and those caring for them, helping them to heal and thrive into adulthood.

“It is vital the government now works at pace to mitigate against the negative impacts of the delay and ensure that applications for therapeutic assessments and support can proceed as quickly as possible.”

Campaigners have also warned that the delay means there will be a backlog of applications and longer waits for those in need of support.

“What has happened has been really unforgivable,” Emily Frith, CEO of Adoption UK, said. “The government must open applications immediately, and then announce a permanent Fund so they avoid ever causing such distress again.”

“Around 3,000 children in England are placed in adoptive families each year. Most have suffered abuse, neglect, or violence and spend an average of 15 months in care before adoption, often with a number of moves while in care, losing everything that is familiar to them along the way. It is common for adopted people to need support throughout their lives.

“The Fund has always been tied to government spending rounds and competing demands on government finances, leaving children and young people on a ‘cliff edge’ towards the end of each financial year, not knowing if their support will continue. This is the first year the government allowed the Fund to literally run out of time, without any communication about future plans, and with little acknowledgement of the widespread distress caused.”