14/11/2025
Devastating…..
Yesterday, the campaign team met with the Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister MP, for a hard-won forty five minute meeting. We could not have been more disappointed or concerned for the future of adopted and kinship children.
The cuts to the ASGSF were made without warning, evidence or consultation. The Minister offered no credible explanation for this, and showed no willingness to engage with the impact of those cuts.
It was confirmed that neither the Department for Education nor the Minister are tracking the consequences for children and families, despite the Education Select Committee advising them to do exactly that.
We presented clear evidence of the harm already being felt, the need for timely specialist therapy, and the economic case for maintaining appropriate support.
Despite warnings from the sector, experts and families, decisions continue to ignore the reality on the ground. The Minister did not outline any credible plan, nor did he set out the principles guiding future decisions.
By the end of the meeting it was plain that neither the ASGSF nor the therapeutic needs of adopted and kinship children are being treated as priorities.
We could not have been more disappointed or concerned for the future of adopted and kinship children.
Department for Education
Adoption UK
Kinship
Bridget Phillipson
Rachel Reeves
