Motherland actress Anna Maxwell Martin is calling on the government to reverse severe cuts to a crucial therapy fund for adopted children. Earlier this year, funding for therapy support, benefiting adopted and kinship children, was reduced by 40% per child. The decision sparked outrage, leading Maxwell Martin to support a campaign urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider the cuts before the upcoming budget.
Expressing her concern to the Mirror, the Line of Duty star criticized the move as unkind and unfair, emphasizing the long-term benefits of investing in children’s well-being early on. She highlighted the economic repercussions of cutting funding, stressing that supporting children through therapy could lead to better outcomes and financial savings for the government in the future.
In a heartfelt plea to Reeves, Maxwell Martin emphasized the importance of prioritizing the needs of children, urging for continued therapeutic support and proper funding allocation. She stressed that all children, including adopted and kinship youths, deserve access to necessary resources to thrive and fulfill their potential.
The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF), a £50 million initiative supporting vulnerable children in England, has seen significant reductions in per-child funding and support services, impacting numerous families. Action Against ASGSF Changes conducted a survey revealing that the new funding limits did not meet the needs of the majority of participants’ children, signaling a pressing need for reconsideration.
Despite the Department for Education’s acknowledgment of the fund’s importance, the recent changes have raised concerns about the well-being of adopted and kinship children. The government has committed to extending the support fund until April 2027, aiming to ensure financial sustainability and improved access to therapeutic interventions for vulnerable youths. Plans for a public engagement process in the upcoming year aim to gather feedback on effective ways to support children and families in need.