Adoption Support Fund to subsidise online services amid Covid-19 pandemic
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
The government has pledged £8m from the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) to subsidise online services to help adoptive families facing “greater stress” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced he is “freeing-up” the sum in order to fund services including online peer-to-peer support, access to helplines and couples therapy for adoptive families.
The money has been released from the fund, which the government has invested £150m in since 2015, in a bid to allow local authorities to plug gaps in provision caused by lockdown measures brought in to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The fund primarily pays for services including play therapy, face-to-face counselling and family support sessions for adoptive parents and vulnerable children.
The government said the move comes after feedback from the sector shows that adoptive families have been experiencing greater stress due to children with attachment and trauma needs being isolated at home and having their routine disrupted, which can lead to an increase in adoption breakdown and child-to-parent violence.
Williamson, who announced an investment of £45m in the scheme for 2020/21, said: “We are taking urgent action to protect the country from the spread of coronavirus, meaning many of us have seen changes in our daily lives as we practice social distancing and stay at home. For adoptive families, often still adjusting to their new environments, this may create additional strain.
“That is why I am freeing up £8m from our Adoption Support Fund to pay for therapies that will help families to cope in this uncertain time.”
Sector leaders welcomed the use of the ASF to support families through the crisis, however, some called for more support for foster families.
Andrew Christie, chair of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board, added:
“I wholeheartedly welcome this news. Many adopters and special guardians are struggling during the current crisis and this funding will help provide much-needed support for them and their families during these difficult times.”
Andy Elvin, chief executive at Tact Foster and Adoption said: “Great to see DfE are supporting adopters, and special guardianship and kinship carers, we assume? Now they need to support our fabulous foster carers who are currently subsidising the state during lockdown as they are receiving no additional financial support.”
Dr Sue Armstrong Brown, chief executive at Adoption UK added: “I am absolutely thrilled the government has listened to our grave concerns about the gaps in post-adoption support which are appearing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Thousands of adoptive families across the UK are currently struggling with a plethora of issues which are exacerbated by the lockdown, so freeing up £8m will be nothing short of a lifeline to many during this crisis. The measures set out in this package of support acknowledge the enormity of the problems facing those parenting some of the nation’s most vulnerable children.”
