Aspire Therapy
@aspiretherapy.bsky.social
Championing the needs of kids in 'care'.
5/5 But in the longer term, these families deserve properly funded statutotory services from CAMHS, Local Authorities and education. The current system is utterly broken. Children and families deserve so so much better.
January 20, 2026 at 10:58 AM
5/5 But in the longer term, these families deserve properly funded statutotory services from CAMHS, Local Authorities and education. The current system is utterly broken. Children and families deserve so so much better.
4/5 We are supporting the calls to reverse all the cuts immediately, and safeguard funding for 3 years, ending the end-of-year chaos we ensure every new funding round.
January 20, 2026 at 10:57 AM
4/5 We are supporting the calls to reverse all the cuts immediately, and safeguard funding for 3 years, ending the end-of-year chaos we ensure every new funding round.
3/5 You cannot slash funding, get rid of specialist assessment, punish flexibility, and destabilise services, then act surprised when the system collapses. Which it will. This doesn’t protect children. It exhausts families, drives out skilled providers, and will lead to placement breakdown
January 20, 2026 at 10:55 AM
3/5 You cannot slash funding, get rid of specialist assessment, punish flexibility, and destabilise services, then act surprised when the system collapses. Which it will. This doesn’t protect children. It exhausts families, drives out skilled providers, and will lead to placement breakdown
2/6
This isn’t a funding system. It’s a badly planned experiment with children’s lives, families’ stability, and providers’ survival. It’s chaotic, punitive and both clinically & financially illiterate. And it is failing the very people it claims to support.
This isn’t a funding system. It’s a badly planned experiment with children’s lives, families’ stability, and providers’ survival. It’s chaotic, punitive and both clinically & financially illiterate. And it is failing the very people it claims to support.
January 20, 2026 at 10:54 AM
2/6
This isn’t a funding system. It’s a badly planned experiment with children’s lives, families’ stability, and providers’ survival. It’s chaotic, punitive and both clinically & financially illiterate. And it is failing the very people it claims to support.
This isn’t a funding system. It’s a badly planned experiment with children’s lives, families’ stability, and providers’ survival. It’s chaotic, punitive and both clinically & financially illiterate. And it is failing the very people it claims to support.
1/5 Turns out I am not quite finished! None of this is accidental. These are policy choices, and vulnerable children & families are paying the price. If this were any other area of healthcare, it would be a national scandal.
January 20, 2026 at 10:52 AM
1/5 Turns out I am not quite finished! None of this is accidental. These are policy choices, and vulnerable children & families are paying the price. If this were any other area of healthcare, it would be a national scandal.
6/6 Adoptive parents are NOT ALLOWED to pay for their own therapist unless Ofsted-registered. Parents can’t pay a Clinical Psychologist specialising in trauma and attachment if they aren't registered with a body that knows far less about traumatised children then the psychologist. Indefensible.
January 20, 2026 at 10:49 AM
6/6 Adoptive parents are NOT ALLOWED to pay for their own therapist unless Ofsted-registered. Parents can’t pay a Clinical Psychologist specialising in trauma and attachment if they aren't registered with a body that knows far less about traumatised children then the psychologist. Indefensible.
5/6
12 years on, we can no longer tolerate the financial risk. We cannot survive months of zero income every year because funding bodies fail to plan or have funding removed mid-case because school holidays got in the way.
Our work has always been LA-funded, but we can’t work within this chaos
12 years on, we can no longer tolerate the financial risk. We cannot survive months of zero income every year because funding bodies fail to plan or have funding removed mid-case because school holidays got in the way.
Our work has always been LA-funded, but we can’t work within this chaos
January 20, 2026 at 10:44 AM
5/6
12 years on, we can no longer tolerate the financial risk. We cannot survive months of zero income every year because funding bodies fail to plan or have funding removed mid-case because school holidays got in the way.
Our work has always been LA-funded, but we can’t work within this chaos
12 years on, we can no longer tolerate the financial risk. We cannot survive months of zero income every year because funding bodies fail to plan or have funding removed mid-case because school holidays got in the way.
Our work has always been LA-funded, but we can’t work within this chaos
4/6
New fun feature: automatic surrender of funds after six months, even when work is active, appropriate, and helping.
Why?
To punish families if services are slow?
To punish services if families are hard to pin down?
It’s punitive, time-wasting, stressful, and absurd.
New fun feature: automatic surrender of funds after six months, even when work is active, appropriate, and helping.
Why?
To punish families if services are slow?
To punish services if families are hard to pin down?
It’s punitive, time-wasting, stressful, and absurd.
January 20, 2026 at 10:41 AM
4/6
New fun feature: automatic surrender of funds after six months, even when work is active, appropriate, and helping.
Why?
To punish families if services are slow?
To punish services if families are hard to pin down?
It’s punitive, time-wasting, stressful, and absurd.
New fun feature: automatic surrender of funds after six months, even when work is active, appropriate, and helping.
Why?
To punish families if services are slow?
To punish services if families are hard to pin down?
It’s punitive, time-wasting, stressful, and absurd.
3/6 Penny-pinching = ever more rigid funding forms with each £0.01 specified before we’ve met families. Core skills of good clinicians are flexibility/responsiveness. Family in crisis & multi-agency meeting urgently needed? Tough, you must apply to panel to repurpose funds. Tick-box commissioning.
January 20, 2026 at 10:40 AM
3/6 Penny-pinching = ever more rigid funding forms with each £0.01 specified before we’ve met families. Core skills of good clinicians are flexibility/responsiveness. Family in crisis & multi-agency meeting urgently needed? Tough, you must apply to panel to repurpose funds. Tick-box commissioning.
2/6 Cuts were partially reversed after huge damage. But funding for specialist assessments has been scrapped, and funding has been cut by 60%. No assessment = inappropriate therapy requests for unassessed families. Why is disregard forchildren, families, and professional expertise acceptable
January 20, 2026 at 10:37 AM
2/6 Cuts were partially reversed after huge damage. But funding for specialist assessments has been scrapped, and funding has been cut by 60%. No assessment = inappropriate therapy requests for unassessed families. Why is disregard forchildren, families, and professional expertise acceptable
1/6
Notes from the coalface. ASGSF funding ended in April 2025 with zero planning or communication. The result? 3 mths with no funded applications: no income for providers and disrupted care for families. Financially disastrous for services, emotionally devastating for children and parents.
Notes from the coalface. ASGSF funding ended in April 2025 with zero planning or communication. The result? 3 mths with no funded applications: no income for providers and disrupted care for families. Financially disastrous for services, emotionally devastating for children and parents.
January 20, 2026 at 10:34 AM
1/6
Notes from the coalface. ASGSF funding ended in April 2025 with zero planning or communication. The result? 3 mths with no funded applications: no income for providers and disrupted care for families. Financially disastrous for services, emotionally devastating for children and parents.
Notes from the coalface. ASGSF funding ended in April 2025 with zero planning or communication. The result? 3 mths with no funded applications: no income for providers and disrupted care for families. Financially disastrous for services, emotionally devastating for children and parents.
Starmer also ducks the question re the support fund for adopted children. 'As soon as possible' is a bit bloody late when the fund ends on Monday, leaving families distraught and services in chaos #asgsf @janetdaby.bsky.social @munirawilson.bsky.social
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/03/28/s...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/03/28/s...
Starmer fails to confirm future of Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund as end looms - Community Care
Prime minister questioned on future of Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, with therapy for thousands of children set to end
www.communitycare.co.uk
March 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Starmer also ducks the question re the support fund for adopted children. 'As soon as possible' is a bit bloody late when the fund ends on Monday, leaving families distraught and services in chaos #asgsf @janetdaby.bsky.social @munirawilson.bsky.social
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/03/28/s...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/03/28/s...
It's already too late. Therapeutic support has ended, funding applications for new assessements and support are on hold, and SMEs who deliver these contracts are letting staff go as there is no work from next week. It's an absolute shitshow for everyone. Goverment by Ghosting. #asgsf #adoption
Brief #ASGSF update? Well no, actually not really.
An MP asked at PMQs today - but got the same old answer: apparently they’re still aiming to update soon. Oh great.
So many hugely vulnerable children now forced to absorb yet another abrupt loss; so many families feeling abandoned and afeared.
😡
An MP asked at PMQs today - but got the same old answer: apparently they’re still aiming to update soon. Oh great.
So many hugely vulnerable children now forced to absorb yet another abrupt loss; so many families feeling abandoned and afeared.
😡
Quick update (ish) for anyone following the saga around the DfE delay in announcing the future of the #ASGSF (Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund) ...
I emailed my MP some weeks ago. He emailed DfE & heard back today & fwded onto me - see (presumably standard) letter attached.
I emailed my MP some weeks ago. He emailed DfE & heard back today & fwded onto me - see (presumably standard) letter attached.
March 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Every word of this #ASGSF
🧵1/7 Following on from yesterday’s post, adoptive parents often carry an invisible weight, managing trauma, advocating for support, and constantly adjusting to meet their child’s needs. But I wanted to add that when the system fails, that weight doesn’t just disappear.
March 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Every word of this #ASGSF
EDM re failure of Labour to protect post Adoption support or to communicate any Plan B. Families, LAs, CAMHS & charities now expecting chaos to be unleased on April 1st as existing work ends prematurely, work due to start is shelved & placements breakdown. #ASGSF
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
edm.parliament.uk
March 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
EDM re failure of Labour to protect post Adoption support or to communicate any Plan B. Families, LAs, CAMHS & charities now expecting chaos to be unleased on April 1st as existing work ends prematurely, work due to start is shelved & placements breakdown. #ASGSF
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...
Reposted by Aspire Therapy
MPs call on government to confirm future of Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund as lack of clarity over vital funding beyond March causes anxiety for thousands edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo... @jessbrownfullermp.bsky.social
Future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament
That this House expresses deep concern over the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), which is set to expire on 31 March 2025; recognises the vital role the fund plays ...
edm.parliament.uk
March 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
MPs call on government to confirm future of Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund as lack of clarity over vital funding beyond March causes anxiety for thousands edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo... @jessbrownfullermp.bsky.social
When it appears that Labour are removing even more support from societies most vulnerable children than the Tories did....
@jon4highpeak.bsky.social @janetdaby.bsky.social @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
#politicallyhomeless #ASGSF
conservativepost.co.uk/thousands-of...
@jon4highpeak.bsky.social @janetdaby.bsky.social @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
#politicallyhomeless #ASGSF
conservativepost.co.uk/thousands-of...
Thousands of Vulnerable Children Face Losing Vital Therapy as Labour Government Fails to Act
Thousands of vulnerable children across the UK are at risk of losing access to crucial therapeutic support as the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) is set to exp…
conservativepost.co.uk
March 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
When it appears that Labour are removing even more support from societies most vulnerable children than the Tories did....
@jon4highpeak.bsky.social @janetdaby.bsky.social @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
#politicallyhomeless #ASGSF
conservativepost.co.uk/thousands-of...
@jon4highpeak.bsky.social @janetdaby.bsky.social @teamlabouruk.bsky.social
#politicallyhomeless #ASGSF
conservativepost.co.uk/thousands-of...
Hard to overstate the increasing panic in Adoption Services and the despair experienced by adoptive families, as the wall of silence about the future of the ASGSF - due to fall off a cliff IN 3 WEEKS - continues. @janetdaby.bsky.social care to enlighten us?
March 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Hard to overstate the increasing panic in Adoption Services and the despair experienced by adoptive families, as the wall of silence about the future of the ASGSF - due to fall off a cliff IN 3 WEEKS - continues. @janetdaby.bsky.social care to enlighten us?
Any sense at all which way ASGSF decision making is heading. Tick tock, tick tock!!
The group discussed the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill, self employed adopters and the urgency of ASGSF funding.
March 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Any sense at all which way ASGSF decision making is heading. Tick tock, tick tock!!
Reposted by Aspire Therapy
I absolutely love this - it seems to me that the only to all the systemic failings and barriers put up in the way of families and people trying to get an education and some care and support is militant decency - throwing stones in to a lake make ripples that radiate- it’s the same with kindness.
I miss Sir Terry Pratchett but his wisdom remains.
November 28, 2024 at 8:49 PM
I absolutely love this - it seems to me that the only to all the systemic failings and barriers put up in the way of families and people trying to get an education and some care and support is militant decency - throwing stones in to a lake make ripples that radiate- it’s the same with kindness.
STILL no update! CAMHS routinely directs adopted children to the ASGSF. Losing the fund with no capacity in CAMHS to take over the services is shocking in it's indifference to the distress of families & the chaos it will cause to NHS and LAs. @jon4highpeak.bsky.social @janetdaby.bsky.social
Please sign this petition. Adoptive parents are on the verge of losing a crucial lifeline. The system is at tipping point, and without the ASGSF, many families will be left without the help they desperately need. This fund is vital glimmer of relief in an already stretched system.
chng.it/69cxVWVkcr
chng.it/69cxVWVkcr
We Can Make an Impact.
The government must provide clarity on the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support fund
chng.it
March 2, 2025 at 2:16 PM
STILL no update! CAMHS routinely directs adopted children to the ASGSF. Losing the fund with no capacity in CAMHS to take over the services is shocking in it's indifference to the distress of families & the chaos it will cause to NHS and LAs. @jon4highpeak.bsky.social @janetdaby.bsky.social
Reposted by Aspire Therapy
Thousands await the fate of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) , vital for children facing past abuse. With government funding in question, nearly 52,000 families fear losing transformative support. Learn more: www.adoptionuk.org/news/thousan...
Thousands of families left in the dark as they wait for news of vital therapy for their children
Thousands of families are being left in the dark as they wait to hear whether funding for vital therapeutic support for their children will continue.
www.adoptionuk.org
February 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Thousands await the fate of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) , vital for children facing past abuse. With government funding in question, nearly 52,000 families fear losing transformative support. Learn more: www.adoptionuk.org/news/thousan...