I got the government to do a good thing

On Friday I held an advice surgery in Lindfield, and one person asked me whether I think that I make a difference. This week I did, so for this week’s Monday Mail, I am going to go behind the scenes on how I got the government to do a good thing for adopted children. 

A cut to therapy for traumatised children 

Regular readers may recall me discussing the cuts to a pot of money that provides therapy for children who have been adopted or are subject to special guardianship orders. This is called the ‘Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund’ or ‘ASGSF’. 

In the Spring, the government renewed the £50m fund for a year, but only after the previous year’s fund had expired. You can see what I said at the time here.

A couple of weeks later there was an update from the government, and it wasn’t welcome news. The maximum amount each child could receive had been cut by 40% from £5,000 to £3,000. Within this, the initial assessment costs had to be found. In simple terms, whilst the overall fund had stayed at £50 million, it was going to be spread more thinly.

Understanding the problem 

In the months that followed I was hearing from families in Mid Sussex, therapy providers like Beacon House in Cuckfield and Jigsaw OT in Burgess Hill, from national charities like Kinship and Adoption UK, and the campaign group Action against ASGSF changes how devastating this was.

Pushing the government to think again

A ‘Westminster Hall’ debate, and questions to Ministers fell on deaf ears. So we tried again. 

I applied for a ‘Backbench Business Debate’, and this debate took place last Thursday.

Debate day

On Thursday morning, I got into the office to learn that the government was going to publish a ‘written ministerial statement’ about the ASGSF. Here it is. What is says is that the fund is going to be renewed for the financial year 2026/27, and that a public engagement exercise will take place next year on the fund. 

It isn’t a coincidence that this was announced on the morning of the debate.

You can read the live tweets of the debate that my staff put out during the debate or watch in full.

I was also pleased that ITV Meridian, BBC Sussex and BBC South East covered the story.

What next?

Clearly I am really pleased about both of these announcements. The year’s renewal is the news that families need to give them some reassurance for now.

But it is not enough. We still have a fund where the per child funding is 40% less than it was a year ago, and when you factor in doing an initial assessment too, then you end up having to choose between working out what a child’s needs are, or trying to treat a child without understanding first what they need.

We must keep pushing to get a fair deal for these children and their families.

A team effort

This has been a big effort from many different people. My brilliant staff; MPs from all parties who supported by application to hold a debate, parents, charities and therapists. Thank you to everyone involved.   

Getting in touch

My parliamentary email address is: alison.bennett.mp@parliament.uk. If you need my help, please get in touch.

Best wishes,
Alison

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