UK Government Allocates £50 Million for Adoption Support Fund Amid Criticism Over Delays
The government announces continued funding for therapeutic services aimed at adopted children and those under special guardianship amid parliamentary concerns over previous delays.
The UK Government has announced a £50 million allocation for the Adoption and Special Guardian Support Fund (ASGSF), aimed at providing ongoing therapeutic services for families of vulnerable and adopted children.
The announcement follows significant criticism from Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding delays in confirming the funding, which has left many families in a state of uncertainty.
Education Minister Janet Daby acknowledged the challenges faced by families and service providers as a result of the funding delay.
She expressed regret over the timing of the announcement for the 2025/26 financial year.
In a response to an urgent question regarding the fund, Ms. Daby stated, "I very much appreciate that the delay in confirming continuation of this fund has been a very difficult time for many," emphasizing that the families supported by the ASGSF are in need of immediate assistance.
Families seeking therapy for adopted children or those under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) can apply for funding through local authorities or regional adoption agencies.
Ms. Daby confirmed that transitional funding arrangements are in place, which allows therapy initiated in the previous financial year to extend into the upcoming fiscal period.
The announcement follows a series of urgent inquiries from MPs, with Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson highlighting that many families have felt "left hanging" as they awaited a formal confirmation of funding.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell criticized the delay, describing it as a "tragedy" that had led to the closure of services and interruptions in therapy for vulnerable children.
She urged the government to consider additional support for those affected by the gap in funding.
In response to inquiries about the timeliness of the funding announcement, Ms. Daby stated that the government remains committed to ensuring sufficient resources for adopted children, and asserted that there are no plans to cancel the funding in the near future.
Several MPs also called for a clearer communication strategy from the government regarding future funding timelines and support for kinship care.
The Minister confirmed that while the current funding will not be expanded, it will be made available to kinship carers as well.
The conversation in Parliament underscored the significant role of timely decision-making in safeguarding support for vulnerable children, with considerable emphasis placed on the need for improvements in the funding allocation process going forward.
The announcement follows significant criticism from Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding delays in confirming the funding, which has left many families in a state of uncertainty.
Education Minister Janet Daby acknowledged the challenges faced by families and service providers as a result of the funding delay.
She expressed regret over the timing of the announcement for the 2025/26 financial year.
In a response to an urgent question regarding the fund, Ms. Daby stated, "I very much appreciate that the delay in confirming continuation of this fund has been a very difficult time for many," emphasizing that the families supported by the ASGSF are in need of immediate assistance.
Families seeking therapy for adopted children or those under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) can apply for funding through local authorities or regional adoption agencies.
Ms. Daby confirmed that transitional funding arrangements are in place, which allows therapy initiated in the previous financial year to extend into the upcoming fiscal period.
The announcement follows a series of urgent inquiries from MPs, with Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson highlighting that many families have felt "left hanging" as they awaited a formal confirmation of funding.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell criticized the delay, describing it as a "tragedy" that had led to the closure of services and interruptions in therapy for vulnerable children.
She urged the government to consider additional support for those affected by the gap in funding.
In response to inquiries about the timeliness of the funding announcement, Ms. Daby stated that the government remains committed to ensuring sufficient resources for adopted children, and asserted that there are no plans to cancel the funding in the near future.
Several MPs also called for a clearer communication strategy from the government regarding future funding timelines and support for kinship care.
The Minister confirmed that while the current funding will not be expanded, it will be made available to kinship carers as well.
The conversation in Parliament underscored the significant role of timely decision-making in safeguarding support for vulnerable children, with considerable emphasis placed on the need for improvements in the funding allocation process going forward.
