Adoption funding cuts devastating – campaigner

A West Sussex parent has said government cuts to therapy funding for adopted children will have a "devastating" impact.

Lucy Watson, a mother of an adopted sibling group and campaigner, said the reduction in funding from £7,500 to £3,000 was "terribly short-sighted".

"These children need our help. They are the most vulnerable in society. If we don't support them now, it is going to cost us [society] more later," she said.

The Department for Education said the government was committed to ensuring adopted families received the help they needed to thrive.

A spokesperson said the government was investing £50m for the 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," they added.

Last year, eligible children could access £2,500 for specialist assessment and £5,000 for therapy. But the therapy limit has now been cut to £3,000 per year, while separate funding for specialist assessment has been axed.

• Adoptive parents needed urgently by local agencies

Ms Watson said the money was vital for adopted children who had often suffered abuse, neglect or violence.

She said the cuts were "crippling" for families with adopted children, adding that it could lead to children missing out on therapy or having their needs unassessed.

"We need to support them to get better so these children have a future," she added.

The Department for Education wrote in an email seen by the BBC that the "difficult decision" to cut funding came as demand "continues to grow significantly".

Nearly 20,000 children received support through the scheme last year, up from around 13,000 in 2019/20.

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