Standing with Families: The Urgent Need to Continue the Adoption Support Fund Beyond March 2025

The Department for Education (DfE) has yet to say whether funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, will continue after 31 March, leaving many adoptive families in limbo, facing the possibility of a sudden end to therapeutic relationships that may have been a lifeline for many years.

Around 4,000 children in the UK are adopted each year. Most have endured early life adverse experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or violence. A child spends on average 15 months in foster care prior to adoption, with a number of changes in attachment figures, and loss of relationships. Adoptive families often need additional specialist support to recover, grow and flourish. The ASGSF was set up in 2015, in recognition of the mental health needs of this vulnerable population and the importance of early therapeutic intervention.

At The Lotus Psychology Practice, we support many families and young people with a range of difficulties such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and attachment difficulties with therapy funded through the ASGSF. We are concerned that many of the families we work with are understandably anxious and distressed about whether there will be a sudden rupture in the therapeutic process, or a sudden ending to therapy. This can be extremely damaging for young people who have already experienced significant loss in their lives. More than others, these young people need consistency and stability to establish trusting relationships with others.

We are aware that many families will be unable to afford to continue much needed therapy if funding is discontinued. With local CAMHS services facing high demand, they may be placed on a waitlist for many months or years in some areas of the UK, or they may not have difficulties that present in a way that reaches the threshold to be offered intervention. More often than not, adopted young people and families require specialist support.

At The Lotus Psychology Practice, we want to reassure all current young people engaged in our service that we are working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that we are able to continue offering vital support. As a service we will ensure that therapeutic support can continue with subsidised sessions.

We believe that excellent health care is not just for the privileged. We are committed to continuing to support young adoptive families and SGOs whether or not government funding is continued. We will be establishing links and projects with local partners to continue to support young people and their families who otherwise would be unable to afford therapeutic intervention.