As a consultant child and adolescent psychotherapist, I am writing to express serious concern about the government’s handling of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) this financial year. The ASGSF has long been a vital resource for adoptive families, enabling access to specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced early trauma, loss and disruption. I have worked with many such families under this scheme and seen the positive, often life-changing impact it can have.
This year, however, the situation has been chaotic and distressing. The decision on ASGSF funding was left until very late in the financial planning cycle, leaving families and professionals in limbo. When the decision finally came, the funding had been cut by 40% – a severe blow.
The result has been the cancellation or delay of therapy for vulnerable children, some of whom are in crisis. Families who have already taken on extraordinary challenges are now left without the support they were relying on. The therapeutic relationships that take time and trust to build are being disrupted or lost entirely.
This is not simply a matter of money – it is about the wellbeing and stability of children who have already faced immense adversity. The ASGSF was created to ensure these families did not fall through the cracks. Undermining it sends a troubling message about the government’s priorities when it comes to some of the most vulnerable children in our society.
Dr Leslie Ironside
Director, The Centre for Emotional Development, Brighton
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