Latest news with #AdoptionandSpecialGuardianshipSupportFund
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Fatima Whitbread's stinging verdict on government therapy cuts for adopted kids
The Olympic medallist, who was abandoned as a baby, has labelled the government's move to slash therapy funding by 40% for each child 'deeply disappointing' Fatima Whitbread, who was abandoned as a baby, has hit out at cuts to therapy for adopted kids. The Olympic medallist labelled the government's move to slash therapy funding by 40% for each child 'incredibly worrying'. And she warned it leaves some of the country's most vulnerable kids 'without access to ongoing therapeutic support'. The retired javelin world champion, 64 – who now runs a charity for children in care – called for the government to reconsider the cuts. The £50 million Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund [ASGSF] pays for therapy sessions for kids who are adopted or those looked after by family or friends in kinship care. But the government's changes unveiled last month have dropped the per child funding from £5,000 to £3,000 each year. And the separate £2,500 per child sum set for specialist assessments has been scrapped. Meanwhile, the ASGSF now does not match fund support for kids with an exceptional need. Fatima, who was adopted by her coach aged 14, told the Mirror: 'I was deeply disappointed by the DfE's decision to reduce the cap on ASGSF payments. These children have often experienced tragedy or trauma, and timely access to specialist support can make a crucial difference to their mental health and wellbeing. 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.' The fund provided support to over 16,000 in 2023-4. It is available to eligible children and young people in England up to and including those who are aged 21, or 25 if they have a special education needs or education health and care plan. Fatima's intervention adds a powerful voice to those who have opposed the cuts. They include a group of charities who have written to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urging her to reconsider. Abandoned as a baby, Fatima experienced a traumatic childhood. She was eventually adopted by javelin coach Margaret Whitbread and her husband. Last year, Fatima told the Guardian: 'I was abandoned as a baby and left to die in our flat. A neighbour heard me crying and called the police, who broke down the door and rescued me. I spent the next 14 years living in institutions, among other traumatised children. Because of the love from my foster family and my passion for sport, I count myself one of the lucky ones.' Fatima went on to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year in 1987, and clinched a silver medal at the Olympics the following year. Later, in 2011, she came third in that year's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here – memorably, getting a cockroach stuck in her nose. More recently, Fatima set up a children's charity in a bid to improve the lives of kids in care. A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We know how important this support is to families – and through our Plan for Change, we're committed to ensuring adopted and kinship families continue to receive the help they need to thrive. We are investing £50 million for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund to continue for another year. The decisions we have taken will ensure the fund is financially sustainable to allow more vulnerable children to access targeted support.'
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Adoptive families in limbo over 'lifeline' fund
Hundreds of families with adopted children in Surrey are waiting to hear whether funding for their government-provided therapy services will continue. The Department for Education (DfE) has yet to say whether funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will continue after 31 March. Karen Garner from the Sensory Smart Child Therapies clinic in Walton-on-Thames said: "Our concern is for the hundreds of children that we support who have been adopted after experiencing trauma, loss and neglect." The DfE said it was "committed to ensuring all children are able to achieve and thrive" and that adoptive parents "will be at the heart" of its plans. Ms Garner said the children they support "are making great progress with therapeutic relationships and specialist interventions". But she said only 18 families "out of hundreds" have had their funding confirmed and there are 400 families across all clinics "in limbo". Families say the services are a lifeline and the uncertainty is causing them anxiety. A mother who visits the clinic in Walton-on-Thames, we are calling Sarah said: "It helps with my daughter's emotions and anxiety. "Not to have it will have a huge impact on her, she looks forward to it every week and thrives when she leaves." Another parent we are calling Kate said: "If my family can't access the funding after March it will affect my daughter's confidence." Another parent said the fund provided a vital lifeline for her family and without the professional help they receive they would be lost. "We are more aware of what our child needs, which means we can also advocate for them at school," she said. Every child is entitled to apply for a fund of up to £5,000 per year for specialist intervention under the scheme. In a statement, the DfE said its planer were "to rebalance the system to provide earlier support and greater stability for children". The government has promised to set out more details on the fund as soon as possible. Alison Woodhead from Adoption UK told the BBC that at least 82% of families they surveyed said the fund had a significant impact on their children and the wider family. She said it "changes lives for hundreds of complicated children who have been removed from their birth families and it is an essential part of their development". "We are receiving an increasing numbers of families calling our helpline asking for clarity, and sadly we can't offer it to them." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Surrey Calls to secure funding for SEND football camps
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Families in limbo over 'lifeline' adoption support fund
Hundreds of families with adopted children in Surrey are waiting to hear whether funding for their government-provided therapy services will continue. The Department for Education (DfE) has yet to say whether funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will continue after 31 Garner from the Sensory Smart Child Therapies clinic in Walton-on-Thames said: "Our concern is for the hundreds of children that we support who have been adopted after experiencing trauma, loss and neglect."The DfE said it was "committed to ensuring all children are able to achieve and thrive" and that adoptive parents "will be at the heart" of its plans. Ms Garner said the children they support "are making great progress with therapeutic relationships and specialist interventions".But she said only 18 families "out of hundreds" have had their funding confirmed and there are 400 families across all clinics "in limbo". 'It will have a huge impact' Families say the services are a lifeline and the uncertainty is causing them anxiety.A mother who visits the clinic in Walton-on-Thames, we are calling Sarah said: "It helps with my daughter's emotions and anxiety."Not to have it will have a huge impact on her, she looks forward to it every week and thrives when she leaves." Another parent we are calling Kate said: "If my family can't access the funding after March it will affect my daughter's confidence."Another parent said the fund provided a vital lifeline for her family and without the professional help they receive they would be lost."We are more aware of what our child needs, which means we can also advocate for them at school," she said. Every child is entitled to apply for a fund of up to £5,000 per year for specialist intervention under the a statement, the DfE said its planer were "to rebalance the system to provide earlier support and greater stability for children".The government has promised to set out more details on the fund as soon as possible. Alison Woodhead from Adoption UK told the BBC that at least 82% of families they surveyed said the fund had a significant impact on their children and the wider said it "changes lives for hundreds of complicated children who have been removed from their birth families and it is an essential part of their development". "We are receiving an increasing numbers of families calling our helpline asking for clarity, and sadly we can't offer it to them."
