Vital support for vulnerable families secured for another year

Adoptive and special guardianship families in England have been granted access to vital support for another year following the Government’s extension of the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) until March 2022.

The Children’s Minister, Vicky Ford MP, announced the extension after the uncertainty around future funding was raised in parliament by Conservative backbencher, Tim Loughton MP. The budget for 2021/22 is yet to be confirmed.

The APPG for Adoption and Permanence welcomes the extension, which will provide valuable support for thousands of families. The group will, however, continue to call on the Government to make a longer-term commitment to this much-needed and highly successful service.

Three-quarters of adopted children have suffered neglect and abuse in their early lives, which has a lasting impact on their relationships, health, and learning. As a result, adoptive children and their families often require therapeutic support of some kind.

The ASF was introduced in 2015 to enable families to access a range of therapeutic interventions to help them overcome the legacy of childhood trauma. In that time, the Government has invested around £200 million in the fund, benefitting more than 61,000 families.

Previous research conducted by the APPG highlights the transformative impact the ASF has had for families, with 80% of adopters saying the support they received via the fund had a significant and positive impact on their family.