Taking action to protect the ASGSF

The campaign to protect the ASGSF continues. 

Read our position on the future of the Fund

Adoption UK recently set out its position on the future of the ASGSF in a paper for the Department for Education, who are responsible for adoption. The paper argues against devolution of the Fund and calls for a full public consultation on its future, along with urgent confirmation of funding for 2026/7.  

Write to your MP

Please consider writing to your MP, even if you have written before, asking them to write to the Minister for Children and Families about funding for the ASGSF. You can find a template letter here. Please do amend to include your own personal experiences if you like.

Read our open letter

In July we sent a joint open letter to the Secretary of State for Education, alongside Kinship, CVAA, Barnardos, Family Rights Group and Coram, calling for an urgent review of the changes made to the ASGSF. You can read the Minister’s response here. 

This followed on from the initial letter sent when the cuts to the Fund were announced and the Minister’s disappointing response to that letter.

Support AUK

We could not do what we do without our members and donors. We know that not everyone is in a position to, but if you are able to support our work by becoming a member or making a donation, we would be very grateful. 

Latest campaign updates

Throughout October and November, Adoption UK has written to parliamentarians with an interest in improving outcomes for those with care experience, urging them to write to the Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister MP, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, asking them to:

• Urgently review the changes made to the ASGSF and the impact on children and families since April, including responding to the evidence presented in this survey.
• Confirm details of the Fund for April 26 – Apr 27, including Fair Access Limits, assessments, and any match funding arrangements that will ensure the needs of every child is met
• Confirm details of the ‘public engagement’ process announced on 4th September, which was promised in the New Year
• Commit to a full and independent review of adoption support, including reviewing the statutory duties and guidance applicable to local authorities

 Held meetings with stakeholders, parliamentarians and Department for Education officials, setting out the case for the ASGSF and our campaign asks

 Worked closely with the campaign group Action Against Changes to the ASGSF on the shaping of the impact report based on their survey of families

 Briefed the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence, and agreed a plan of action for the Group to urge the government to act now.

Called on our community to write to the Children’s Minister and Chancellor, setting out our calls to action, using our template letter.

Parliamentary Briefings

Adoption UK wrote a parliamentary briefing on the cuts to the Fund, and the government’s plans for future reform, for the Westminster Hall debate which took place on Thursday 4^th September. 

Further background document

Interim results of a survey led by Action Against the ASGSF Changes

Plans for reform

Adoption UK recently set out its position on proposals for reform in a paper for the Department for Education. The paper argues against devolution of the Fund and calls for a full public consultation on its future, along with urgent confirmation of funding for 2026/7. 

Campaign summary and further actions

After an agonising wait to find out whether the ASGSF would continue to exist at all, it was finally confirmed by the Children’s Minister on 1^st April 2025 that the Fund would carry on for 2025-6, and that the total pot would be the same size as last year (£50m).

However on 14^th April the government announced that there would be significant changes within the Fund.

1. The ‘Fair Access Limit’ has been reduced from £5,000 to £3,000 per child per year. 
2. The £2,500 per child per year set aside for specialist assessments has been dropped altogether.  
3. The ASGSF will no longer match fund support for children with an exceptional level of need. Until now it provided up to 50% of the funding for up to £30,000 per child, with the rest provided by the local authority.   

 So far we have:

• held an event in parliament on 19th May for MPs to meet adopters, kinship carers and organisations who support them, to find out about the challenges their children face and the vital role of the Fund in helping them reach their potential,
• met with the Children’s Minister Janet Daby MP on 21st May, alongside other organisations,
• tabled amendments on adoption support to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, both in the Commons and the Lords, which is currently making its way through Parliament,
• held a number of open webinars for our community affected by the cuts,
• worked with campaign group ActionAgainsttheCuts on building an evidence base showing the impact changes to the ASGSF is having on families now,
• led a consortium of sector organisations representing adoptive and kinship care families to make joint representations to the Secretary of State for Education – see our open letter.
• tabled numerous parliamentary questions through supportive MPs,
• briefed parliamentarians for Westminster Hall debates on the ASGSF and an Adjournment debate on adoption disruption

Many of you have been in touch with us via our social media and advice line to tell us about your fears for the future of your young people. Thank you to all those who have shared your stories and contacted your MPs for their support. This has helped us to put pressure on government ministers to act, both publicly and behind the scenes. Please help us keep up pressure. Please find a template letter here which you can send to your MP – you can personalise it in any way you want.