Motherland actress Anna Maxwell Martin is urging the government to reverse harsh reductions to a crucial therapy fund for adopted children. The financial support for therapy, benefiting adopted and kinship children, was cut by 40% for each individual earlier this year. This decision sparked outrage, leading the actress to support a campaign calling for a reversal before Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget. Maxwell Martin expressed her concern, stating that cutting funding for these children is unkind and unfair. She emphasized the long-term benefits of early investment in children’s lives, highlighting that it ultimately saves money for the government as these children thrive, work, and contribute to society.
In a plea directed at Reeves, Maxwell Martin stressed the importance of supporting children as adults, emphasizing the need for therapeutic assistance in education. She also released a video for the campaign, advocating for the right of all children, including adopted and kinship children, to receive the necessary support to reach their potential. The fund in question, the £50 million 2025-6 Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF), finances therapy for vulnerable children in England. However, recent government changes reduced the funding per child from £5,000 to £3,000 annually, along with eliminating the £2,500 per child allocation for specialist assessments.
The Action Against ASGSF Changes campaign group conducted a survey involving adoptive parents, special guardians, and kinship carers, revealing that 85% of respondents felt the new funding limit did not meet their child’s needs. The Mirror previously reported on the cuts to the ASGSF, featuring stories of individuals whose lives were positively impacted by the fund. Despite the backlash, the Department for Education defended the decisions, stating that the changes aim to ensure the financial sustainability of the fund and improve access to therapeutic support for vulnerable children. They committed to continuing the support fund until April 2027 and plan to engage the public to determine the most effective ways to support families moving forward.
