Vital fund for adopted children saved for another year, but government must go further

After months of campaigning by families, Adoption UK and others in the sector, the Children’s Minister has today confirmed that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will continue for 2026/27. The Minister has also committed to ‘public engagement’ on future reforms of the Fund.  

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 ASGSF was set up to provide specialist support for adopted children – and has since been expanded to include those in kinship care arrangements. 

The high-quality therapeutic support offered by the Fund can be life changing. This year’s Adoption Barometer will show that 85% of adoptive families who accessed support through the ASGSF say it has had a positive impact on their family. 

In April the government made significant changes to the ASGSF, including a 40% reduction in the amount available per child. There is already clear evidence these cuts are harming children.  

Alison Woodhead from Adoption UK said: “The commitment to another year of this vital funding is welcome, as is the promise of consultation with the families and sector. Now the government must go further. It is vital that the impacts of this year’s cuts to the Fund inform their decisions about next year and beyond. Families have little confidence that reforms will be driven by the best interests of children. That has to change.” 

Adoption UK and others in the sector are calling for a two year moratorium on reforms to the way the Fund is run, pending a full public consultation.  

There is cross party consensus on the need to improve support for adoptees. In a debate yesterday MPs from all parties argued for a permanent fund that is able to support all the adopted children and young people who need it. A recent report published by the Education Select Committee concluded there was 'too little recognition of the impact of the early trauma and separation experienced by adopted children, and of the support they need to thrive in education and beyond'.