£8m COVID-19 Adoptive Families Support Fund

£8m COVID-19 Adoptive Families Support Fund

The Education Secretary Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that up to £8 million will be available to adoptive families as the Government expands the scope of the Adoption Support Fund to meet needs arising from the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Local authorities and regional adoption agencies will be able to use to £8 million fund to pay for activities such as virtual peer to peer support, access to helplines, couples therapy and online counselling.

Since its launch in 2015, the Adoption Support Fund has spent more than £150 million to help more than 45,000 adoptive and special guardianship order families across the country.

Williamson said:

“We are taking urgent action to protect the country from the spread of coronavirus, meaning many of us have seen changes in our daily lives as we practice social distancing and stay at home. For adoptive families, often still adjusting to their new environments, this may create additional strain.

“That is why today I am freeing up £8 million from our Adoption Support Fund to pay for therapies that will help families to cope in this uncertain time.”

The therapies available through the COVID-19 Adoption Support Fund will be delivered alongside those already offered by the Fund, such as music activities, play therapy and family support sessions. 

The funding aims to help fill gaps in provision caused by the impact of COVID-19, including where local authority staff are unable to attend work due to sickness or self-isolation.

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