Lib Dems secure £50m funding for vulnerable children’s support after months of Govt “dither and delay”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have secured £50 million in renewed funding for therapeutic support for adopted children or those looked after by guardians, dragging Ministers “kicking and screaming” to renew the fund – with Starmer U-turning on last week’s PMQs answer that the “welfare scheme overall is not defendable on terms”.

The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund provided therapy for 18,030 young children who were adopted or living with special guardians in 2024 – including survivors of early trauma and abuse.

Until today the future of the fund was up in the air, with Government officials repeatedly refusing to confirm its renewal. In response to Lib Dem Education spokesperson Munira Wilson’s PMQ last week on this crucial issue, the Prime Minister said that the “welfare scheme overall[is not defendable on terms” and said that the “details will be set out” regarding the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.

Munira told the i yesterday that the fund was “teetering on a cliff edge” and called for an “eleventh-hour U-turn” on the Government’s indifferent approach to letting the fund lapse. Families have been left in limbo without information, and the organisations that provide the therapy have also been put in an incredibly difficult position, with question marks as to whether they will all still be able to carry on providing the support that’s needed, as a result of this delayed announcement.

In the Houses of Commons today, the Minister for Children and Families confirmed in response to Munira’s urgent question that £50 million in funding would be allocated to the scheme.

Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Education, Children and Families Spokesperson, said:

“This is a massive win for vulnerable children across the country. Adoptive parents and kinship carers will be utterly relieved to know that funding for this vital resource will be continued for the next year at least.

“But the months of dither and delay from the Government have been totally unacceptable, leaving hundreds of thousands of vulnerable young people in the dark about whether life-changing support will be pulled out from under their feet. I shouldn’t have had to drag Ministers, kicking and screaming, to renew this crucial fund.

“Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign to give all children and families the best possible future.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Please find reporting in the i here: https://inews.co.uk/news/18000-vulnerable-children-could-lose-vital-therapy-as-adoption-fund-faces-axe-3614393