Write to your MP about the changes to the ASGSF

2   Copy and paste the letter below:

Your name 

Your address 

Name of your MP 

Date 

Dear (Name of your MP) 

I write to express my concern regarding the impact that cuts made to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) in April this year are having on my family, and probably others in your constituency. This comes as new evidence collected by campaigners suggests cuts have led to:

• An increase in school exclusions and a decrease in school engagement and attendance
• A deterioration in children’s mental health
• Families being plunged into crisis and some even facing adoption disruption
• Families being forced to choose between having an assessment of needs, or therapy, as the reduced fair access limit is, in many cases, insufficient to fund both

There were responses from 469 participants, representing 777 children and young people. 98% of respondents said the new Fair Access Limit was not sufficient to meet their child’s needs, and 36% of families said they had been forced to choose between an assessment of needs that would help inform the most appropriate type of therapy for their child; or therapy for their child (without an proper assessment this means there is a high likelihood the type of therapy they receive could be ineffective, or worse still, damaging). 81% of respondents said that cuts to the ASGSF had a very negative or negative impact on their child’s mental health.

In the run up to the Autumn Budget on 26^th November, I urge you to write to the Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister MP, alongside the Chancellor, 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 4^th 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

The ASGSF was set up in 2015 with the aim of providing adopted children and adoptive families with the therapeutic support needed to help the child to address loss and separation, and help recover from the trauma, abuse or neglect they may have suffered before they entered care. It was later expanded to include kinship families, where the child had special guardianship or child arrangements orders and had previously been in the care system.

The ASGSF transforms lives. 82% of adopters surveyed by Adoption UK last year said the Fund has had a significant positive impact on their family. The government’s own evaluation found that after ASGSF support, the mental health difficulties of school aged children improved to a statistically significant degree.  

On 14th April the government took the decision to cut the individual support available to each child by 40%, from £5,000 to £3,000 a year. A separate allocation of £2,500 for specialist assessments has been dropped altogether, as has a match funding arrangement with local authorities for children with the most complex needs. 

Our children have all had a very difficult start in life and deserve a permanent source of specialist support not susceptible to changes in administration or Treasury priorities, and which is properly resourced to meet their needs. Adoption UK, CVAA, Kinship, Barnardo’s and Family Rights Group have issued a joint open letter to the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, calling for a permanent ASGSF, a full public consultation ahead of any future reforms, and a review of adoption support.

As my representative in Parliament, I urge you to please add your voice on this issue, including writing to the Minister for Children and Families ahead of the budget, and by speaking in any parliamentary debates or question times.  

I look forward to your response. 

Yours sincerely, 

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