Yesterday I led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament to raise urgent concerns about the Government’s decision to cut the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) by 40%.
This fund, introduced by the last Conservative Government in 2015, has supported thousands of adoptive and kinship families by providing access to trauma-informed therapy and specialist services.
The Government's decision to cut this vital funding means:
🔻 Annual therapy funding has been reduced from £5,000 to £3,000 per child
❌ The £2,500 allowance for specialist assessments has been completely removed
❌ Match funding for children with the most complex needs has been scrapped
❌ Families can no longer carry over support across financial years
These cuts come at a time when families are already under immense pressure and when vulnerable children need more support, not less. These aren’t optional extras. For many, this is essential help that makes the difference between crisis and stability.
During today’s debate, I called on the Government to:
🔹 Restore the full £5,000 Fair Access Limit
🔹 Reinstate specialist assessment funding
🔹 Bring back match funding for complex cases
I will continue to urge the Government to act swiftly and reconsider the changes, stressing that the wellbeing of children must come first.
