We react to cuts to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
Our CEO shares how this “dramatic reduction” in funding will impact some of the most vulnerable children and young people in England.
Earlier this month, the Department of Education (DfE) announced that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will be continuing with a budget of £50m. However, while a child or young person could previously be granted £2500 for assessment and £5000 for therapy per year under the Fair Access Limit, DfE shared on Monday (14 April 2025) this has been cut to £3000 for each child per year for both assessment and therapy. This translates to a 40% reduction in funding for therapy and a 60% cut in total funding (including therapy and assessment) for new referrals.
The ASGSF helps families in England who need therapeutic support after adoption and might otherwise struggle to get the help they need. Many children in adoptive and special guardianship families are care-experienced, and 45% of looked after 5-15 years olds in England have emotional and mental health problems compared to 10% in the general population (Looked-After Children and Young People (update), NICE, 2021).
Professor Eamon McCrory, CEO of Anna Freud, said:
“Adopted children and young people are at increased risk of mental health difficulties, with many unfortunately having experienced abuse or neglect in their early years, as well as separation from birth families. This significant cut to Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) - a lifeline for many of the adoptive and special guardianship families we support - is incredibly worrying and leaves some of the most vulnerable children and young people in England without access to ongoing therapeutic support.
“While it is a relief the ASGSF is continuing, we urge the government to reconsider this dramatic reduction in funding. The new budget is insufficient to provide the necessary assessment and therapy to help many adoptive and special guardianship families move forward and heal from trauma. Without reliable support, there is also an increased risk of family placements breaking down and children returning to care.”
Find out more about our Family trauma department, including the support we provide to special guardianship and adoptive families.
About Anna Freud
Anna Freud is a mental health charity and we’ve been supporting children and young people for over 70 years. We listen to and learn from their diverse voices, and integrate this with learnings from our science and practice to develop and deliver mental health care. This holistic approach has world-changing potential – our training, schools support, networks, partnerships and resources equip those who impact children and young people’s lives with the knowledge and skills to support their mental health.