CVAA UK

📣For a limited time we are offering 10% off this expert-led training on FASD only!

Just use code FASD10 when booking online via the link below 👇
#Adoption #Socialworkers #SocialCare #FASD #Adoptiveparents #Children

🍂 New Half-Day Training!

CVAA online: What Social Workers Need to Know When Assessing & Supporting Adoptive Parents with Children Affected by FASD – Told Through the Eyes of an Adopter

🗓 15 Oct 2025 | ⏰ 10:00–13:30 | 🎓 3.5 CPD hrs
💻 Online | with Joy Hopgood-Gravett

👉 Book now: bit.ly/48zeRvc

CVAA's Practice Programme 2026-27 Questionnaire (3 mins) Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

✨ It’s that time of year again! ✨
CVAA’s 2026–27 Practice Programme 3 min questionnaire is now open – and we want your input!
We’d love to hear:

🔹 Your experience this past year
🔹 Topics/experts you’d like to see
🔹 If your agency could run a session

📅 Closes end of Nov
👉 bit.ly/4nGi2pq

From left to right: Natausha van Vliet, Chief Executive at PACT; Emily Frith, Chief Executive Officer at Adoption UK; and Alice Talbot, Director of Strategy and Policy at CVAA UK standing in front of an Adoption UK pull up banner.

From left to right: Emily Frith, Chief Executive Officer at Adoption UK and Josh MacAlister MP standing in front of an Adoption UK pull up banner.

Great to join @adoptionuk.bsky.social at the 2025 Barometer launch yesterday. Valuable insights from Josh MacAlister MP who pledged to champion adopted children & families. Challenges still remain but CVAA looks forward to future discussions with the Minister to shape the future of adoption support.

Adoption Barometer The Adoption Barometer is the only UK-wide comprehensive stock-take of adoption. It's based on the findings of a large annual survey. It provides powerful evidence of the realities of adopting and bei...

The latest @adoptionuk.bsky.social #AdoptionBarometer is out. www.adoptionuk.org/the-adoption...

More than half of families with teens & young adults are facing severe challenges.

We back the recommendations esp. calls for permanent funding for therapeutic support, as part of a lifelong approach

🍂 This Oct, CVAA brings 3 expert-led online trainings (all half-day):
👩‍👦 Keeping Birth Parents in mind throughout the Adoption Journey – 8 Oct
🧩 FASD & SW Practice – 15 Oct
🧒 Recruitment & Therapeutic Placement Strategy for children waiting the longest – 23 Oct

👉 Info & booking: bit.ly/45Jh3NQ

🚨 New 3x 1-hr online Short & Smart sessions for #Adoption Panel Chairs, Members & Advisors.

Focused learning on questioning, influences & health issues in panel practice 💷 £25 per session | ⏱️ 1hr | 🎟️ 50 places only 📅 Dates 30th Sept, 16th Oct, 10th Dec bit.ly/45Jh3NQ
#Adoptionpanel #Adoptionsupport

The Impact of Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) on Adoption Services and Therapeutic Services: Research Study We appreciate that the government’s decision to reduce ASGSF funding has been a difficult one, affecting how services are responding to the needs of children and families in need of therapeutic suppor...

Adoption professionals: We know #ASGSF changes hasn't just cut support—they’ve forced many to adapt quickly to evolving therapeutic needs of adoptive families. Join ‪@sussex.ac.uk‬ & @worcesteruni.bsky.social‬ focus groups or 121 interviews to shape future funding
👉 bit.ly/47buKHN

ASGSF Parent Carer Impact Survey (Post-April 2025 Changes)

🚨 Parents/carers affected by #ASGSF delays/cuts: Have your say! 🚨

📋 Fill out a 5–10 min survey to share how changes have impacted your family.

📅 Deadline: Mon 29 Aug
🕒 Early responses needed!

📢 Amplify adoptive families voices to show the impact of cuts and shape the Fund’s future: bit.ly/46LBrA0

Parliament started summer recess this week, and that means no #ASGSF decision until September.

Here's our blog about it 👇
cvaa.org.uk/blog-a-devol...

We need 1. A full & proper consultation prior to any decisions about future reform & 2. An adoption support model with fair access for all children

Charities call for urgent review of adoption support funding - CYP Now A charity coalition is calling for an urgent review of the government’s “abrupt and short-sighted” cuts to adoption support, which they claim is a breach of a Labour manifesto commitment to support ad...

"A charity coalition is calling for an urgent review of the government’s “abrupt and short-sighted” cuts to adoption support, which they claim is a breach of a Labour manifesto commitment to support adoptees" www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
@cypnow

Delays & reductions in support are having devastating consequences for children & families. Govt suggestions that local authorities can/will cover shortfalls in funding are misleading.

There are both moral & economic reasons to review the cuts, and we need action now.
cvaa.org.uk/cvaa-signs-j...

Today CVAA & @adoptionuk.bsky.social @wearecoram.bsky.social @kinshipcharity.bsky.social @barnardos.org.uk @familyrightsgp.bsky.social wrote to @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social calling for an urgent review of the April #ASGSF changes, confirmation of funding in 2026 & full consultation on future reforms

🚨Want to explore why maintaining relationships in adoption matters for identity & life history?
Join our HALF DAY training session on Maintaining Relationships in Adoption: Why Does Adoption Need to Change & How Can We Achieve This?
19th August | 10am–1:30pm | With Ruth Copson (UEA)
bit.ly/45Wox1E

CVAA data shows most of our member adoption agencies exceed the 27% voluntary sector average of applications from the #LGBTQ+ community 🏳️‍🌈 Their inclusive and respectful services are making a real impact — with Adoption Matters leading the way in the North! 🙌 #Adoption

The first report from the #FamilyRoutes study is out:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/684c4e...
There's much to be taken from this - esp. the recommendation for thorough assessments of need pre-Order & informed advice about the implications of children's needs in the longer-term #adoption

An important new report with stark findings about the daily lived experiences of adoptive families navigating teenage years @thepotatogroup.bsky.social . Calls for a more trauma responsive approach to #adoptionsupport must be factored into govt's current consideration of the future of the #ASGSF

🚨 HALF DAY Practice Webinar – Book Now! 🚨
Topic: Assessing & Supporting Single Adopters
🗓 Thurs 17 July | 🕙 10am–1:30pm
🎓 With Mahongo Shibemba & Penny Rowntree (Adopters for Adoption)
🔍 Explore research, good practice & practitioner insights on single adopters.
👉 Book here: bit.ly/44j4Ezo

Event listing | Small Charity Week This is an events listing page for small organisations to share their local Small Charity Week events.

Its #SmallCharityWeek, an opportunity to celebrate the contribution that charities make to #Communities in the UK. Take a look at how to get involved and the free events taking place throughout the week below:
bit.ly/43ZttRW

🚨 Back by popular demand! 🚨
Join our HALF DAY Practice Workshop:
"Working with Traumatised Adopted Children & Calming the ANS"

🗓 Wed 25 June | 🕙 10am–1pm
🎓 Led by Jay Vaughan, CEO, Family Futures CIC

Support traumatised children and yourself as a professional.
👉 Book now: bit.ly/4e2fVIH

📣Today VAAs from across the UK have launched the third ‘advice from adopters’ guide, focusing on advice from those who have adopted children from Black and other diverse ethnicities.

📘 Read the new guide below + explore our other guides in the series here: bit.ly/3ZrSwum

YouTube video by Yorkshire Adoption Agency Skye at YAA talks adoption with Sile Sibanda BBC Radio Sheffield 23rd May 2025

🎉 Huge congrats to YAA on its new community engagement project tackling adoption disparities! 👏 Led by Skye, YAA’s first Community In-Reach Worker, who is supporting Black African & Caribbean families. Hear her talk all about the new project on @BBCSheffield 🎧👇
🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yTb...

Almost half of Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund awards last year exceeded new £3,000 limit - Community Care Data shows thousands of care experienced children will go without the therapy they need due to government cuts to ASGSF payments, warn charities

📣 Our CEO Satwinder Sandhu speaks out in Community Care on ASGSF funding cuts:

"Thousands of children are being denied the therapies they need. Proven trauma-based therapies are being compromised by arbitrary limits."

Read more ⬇️
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/05/23/a...

👏 Fantastic to see our CEO Satwinder Sandhu along with other passionate voices at yesterday’s adoption roundtable with the Children’s Minister — speaking up for adoptive families & the future of the Adoption Support Fund. 💬 These vital conversations must continue. #ASGSF

Half of adoption therapy cases 'could exceed new funding limit' - CYP Now Just under half of approved applications for therapeutic support for adopted children made last year were above the government’s new funding limit, figures have revealed.

Important article from CYP Now showing the scale of children affected by recent #ASGSFcuts - over 7,000 adopted children & close to 2,000 kinship children had support costing £3k-£5k last year

limit'https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news/half-of-adoption-therapy-cases-could-exceed-new-funding-limit

BookTrust’s new #ReadingRights report shows how shared reading supports bonding, identity & stability for children in social care & can be used by #foster, #kinship & #adoptive professionals to build trust, heal trauma & offer safe spaces. 📚💛

🚨 Training Alert!
Join us Tuesday 24 June for:
"Practical Strategies to Support Parents/Carers of Adopted, Fostered & Kinship Children"
📘 With Denise Golding & Zach Richard Gomm
💛 Perfect for adoption professionals, potential adopters & families.
👉 Book now: bit.ly/43721kX

📢 Minister Janet Daby responded to our joint letter on ASGSF cuts and we are deeply disappointed the gov't is proceeding.

CVAA CEO Satwinder Sandhu will raise this on 21 May and we will keep pushing for change in 2025-26.

📄 Read the Minister’s response and our CEO’s statement here: bit.ly/3YK09vL

📣Powerful radio interview with CEO Anna Sharkey of Adoption Focus on the impact of ASGSF cuts on children, families, and adopters. An adoptive mum also shares how devastating these cuts are for families in crisis.
Tune in below! 📻
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV72...

Mental Health Awareness Week Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 is taking place 12 to 18 May, and the theme is Community.

This week is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and this year it is all about celebrating the power and importance of #community, and how it supports our mental health and wellbeing. It's great to see so many of our members showing their support and you can find out how to get involved here bit.ly/44vMeNy