🍂 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

✨ 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

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.

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

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

🚨 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

"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

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

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

🎉 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...

📣 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

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...

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

On Saturday we joined the #ASGSF march with +1000 passionate adoptive & kinship families. “Brutally cutting our access to meaningful therapy also brutally cuts our children’s life chances & we will not stand by and quietly watch those be taken" -Clare, organiser Petition here: asgsfprotest.com

We’re supporting the march from the Dept for Education to Downing St this Saturday at 1PM, protesting the govt’s harmful ASGSF changes. 🪧 These cuts hit adopted children + families hard — let’s get our voices heard! 📣 Register for the event & sign & share the petition below 👇 🔗 asgsfprotest.com

🧠 Upcoming HALF DAY Practice Session: Using Mentalization in Adoption Assessments! Hear all about our next Practice Workshop with Dr Polly Cowan and Dr Alice Loving 📅 Date: Wednesday 7th May ⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM 💻 Where: Zoom Interested? Book now via the link below! 👇 bit.ly/42ArG5g

Another important piece from BBC News shows how crucial the #ASGSF is for #families and #adopted children’s development. Nicky, mum to an adopted 6yo with complex needs, says: "[The government] are playing with people's lives..." & @adoptionuk.bsky.social on the anger and fear families are feeling.

📢 Join us for expert-led training on Supporting the Traumatised Adopter: Primary Trauma from the Challenges of parenting their Child, and hear first hand experience from Fostering and Adoption Specialist Fi Newood on 29/04/25! ⏰ 10am–4pm | 💡 CPD: 6hrs | 💻Online 🔗 Book now: bit.ly/3GkeOr7

This week the DfE announced major cuts in support for adopted & kinship children. Today we joined @adoptionuk.bsky.social @kinshipcharity.bsky.social @wearecoram.bsky.social in writing to the Secretary of State expressing our deep concern & urging reconsideration cvaa.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Don't forget @adoptionuk.bsky.social's webinar tonight at 8pm to answer adopters' questions on the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund #ASGSF

We are glad to see @munirawilson.bsky.social's letter to the Secretary of State on this week's #ASGSF announcement. We too are dismayed about these cuts which fall hardest on children with the most complex needs

Today a raft of #ASGSF cuts were announced. The Fair Access Limit has been capped at £3k (down from £5k), specialist assessment costs must be taken from the £3k limit & match funding applications have been scrapped. Read our CEO's statement here: cvaa.org.uk/cvaa-respons...

We're looking for an experienced Head of People and Operations. Your role is to ensure that the People and Operations team provides an expert and service across a wide range of services, including People, IT and facilities management. 💻 👉 www.pactcharity.org/head-of-people-and-operations.

CVAA is launching free Short & Smart bite-sized, impactful 1 hour lunchtime learning sessions designed for busy adoption and fostering professionals. Whether you're a worker, manager, or support staff, these sessions deliver practical, relevant knowledge to boost your expertise! bit.ly/472XQa6

Great article summarising #ASGSF news inc. comment from our CEO. There's much relief about this year's funding but thousands of families are now facing a dangerous gap in therapy. We also can't ignore the impact of this all on people considering adopting www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/04/01/a...

Today @janetdaby.bsky.social announced the continuation of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (#ASGSF) for 2025-26. £50m confirmed - the same as last year - but exact plans for the fund still TBC, so the application process remains on hold.

We are very excited to be part of the BlueSky community where we will keep you up to date on all CVAA news and training, policy updates and information within the adoption and social care sector! Find out more about what we do for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and our training offer at cvaa.org.uk