Thousands of adopted children across England could be forced back into the care system as government funding cuts push already vulnerable families to crisis point, leading charities have warned.
Adoption UK described the situation as “morally and economically nonsensical”, highlighting the devastating consequences of reduced support services.
The alarm was raised following the government’s decision in April to slash by 40% the per-child allocation from the annual £50 million Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
The fund, which provides vital therapy and support for adopted children through local councils and regional agencies, has long been credited with transforming lives.
Alison Woodhead, Director of Public Affairs at Adoption UK, said the cuts are fuelling a dramatic rise in families contacting the charity’s helpline in distress.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “We’ve had hundreds of families saying they’re terrified their children may self-harm or be taken back into care. Families are at breaking point.”
Woodhead stressed that without timely therapeutic intervention, many adopted children — already overrepresented in criminal justice and school exclusion statistics — face significantly worse life outcomes. “This is setting them up to fail and undermining the entire adoption system,” she added.
The cuts also threaten to worsen the ongoing decline in adoptive families. Government figures show the number of people approved to adopt in England has plummeted by nearly 60% since 2013.
Woodhead criticised the government for investing in new adopter recruitment campaigns while simultaneously withdrawing post-adoption support. “If families know they won’t get the help they need, why would they adopt? It’s self-defeating,” she said.
The charity’s Adoption Barometer report revealed a stark rise in families reaching crisis: 38% in 2023, up from 22% the previous year.
The percentage of adopted children prematurely leaving home — either re-entering care or moving to assisted living — rose to 7%, compared to just 3% in 2021.
Tracy Beaumont, a solicitor at Ridley & Hall’s Adoption Legal Centre, said her firm is being overwhelmed by desperate parents exploring legal options to return their children to local authority care.
“These families have done everything possible, but without adequate support, they’re forced to consider Section 20 applications under the Children Act — an incredibly traumatic last resort,” she explained.
Beaumont emphasised that many such breakdowns could have been avoided with early intervention. “These cuts to the adoption fund are pushing families over the edge. Local authorities already face limited resources, and now vulnerable children are being failed again.”
A Department for Education spokesperson responded: “We remain committed to supporting adoptive and kinship families. Through our Plan for Change, we are continuing the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund with £50 million in funding this year. Children will still be eligible for up to £3,000 in therapeutic support annually.”
The government insists the revised funding model is designed to be financially sustainable while expanding access to targeted help for more children in need.
