ASGSF

Adoption and special guardianship support fund

 

Adoption support fund

The Adoption Support Fund was established after it was understood that many children, young people, and families needed and benefitted from therapeutic support following adoption. 

Currently, adopted children and young people have access to:

  • £3000 per financial year for therapeutic support

The following interventions are within scope of Adoption Support Fund funding: 

  • Specialist Assessment — The ASF defines that this assessment must identify the attachment and trauma needs of the child and provide a holistic view of the therapy require to meet the assessed need. The assessment cost will need to fall within the £3000 fair access limit.

  • Theraplay 

  • Play Therapy 

  • Sensory Integration therapy 

  • Creative therapies 

  • Dyadic Development Psychotherapy (DDP) 

  • Filial Therapy 

  • Psychotherapy 

  • Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing 

  • Extensive Therapeutic Life Story Work 

  • Non Violence Resistance 

Further information about what is and is not in scope can be found at: 

The Fund is available for children living in England up to and including the age of 21 (or 25 with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education Health & Care Plan). We have confirmation that this fund will continue in 2026/2027.

Adopt North East can support children via the Adoption Support Fund who: 

  • are adopted and were previously in local authority care in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

  • are adopted from overseas

Therapeutic support can be explored by Social Workers alongside families through the completion of an assessment of adoption support needs. Please contact our Front Door Duty team to explore support further on: 0191 643 5000