Calls for cuts to adoption support to be reversed

Becky Pain-Tolin says "it is not right to cut support from those who need it most"

A Gloucestershire councillor is warning that cuts to adoption support could leave vulnerable children without the help they need.

Last year each eligible child could access £5,000 for therapy through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) but that has been cut to £3,000.

"It's a lifeline for traumatised children and it's shocking the government thinks cutting this support is acceptable," said Tewkesbury borough council leader Richard Stanley.

A government 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."

Becky Pain-Tolin, from Gloucestershire, has cared for her adopted son since 2016 and formally adopted him in 2019.

"It is not right that these children who have been through significant early life trauma are not being given the support which they require," she said.

Her son, now 11, experienced significant trauma in his early months, with five placements by the age of six months.

He has extreme autism, complex learning difficulties, and multiple disabilities.

In 2017, Ms Pain-Tolin secured funding for trauma therapy, which she says was vital to his progress.

"We feel abandoned with children who need so much support and they have already been let down," she said.

"It is not fair for money that has previously been there to be taken away from them in a climate where things are becoming more expensive.

"They are more likely to go into drug abuse and alcohol abuse and more likely to end their lives, they are the ones who need the support the most."

Tewkesbury borough council leader Richard Stanley has called on the government to rethink the changes

Mr Stanley, who also has an adopted child, is proposing a motion to Gloucestershire County Council on Wednesday.

He said: "Just because a child is adopted does not mean all their pain and trauma instantly goes away, it's not like in the Disney movies.

"Children often need trained professional therapeutic support and access to this, if needed, makes it far more more likely that adoptions will succeed."

Gloucestershire County Council said it "cannot comment on motions ahead of the council meeting".

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We committed £50m for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund to continue for another year until next April with children still being able to access £3,000 in therapy support each year.

"The decisions we have taken will ensure the fund is financially sustainable to allow more vulnerable children to access targeted support and we will provide an update on the future of the fund in due course."