A welcome message to the new Minister for Children and Families.

Hundreds of dedicated parents. Peer support, solidarity, and a drive for change. Chair of The Potato Group, Euan Preston, introduces who we are, and why we exist. A clip from the Family Matters podcast. Thanks again to @adoptionuk.bsky.social for inviting us on to discuss our research.

The #ASGSF is being extended for another year. Welcome news, but it’s not enough. Adoptive and kinship families deserve appropriately funded, stable, effective support, not short-term extensions and vague promises. questions-statements...

We love our kids fiercely, and we always will. But adoption culture needs to move beyond the idea that “love is enough”. Our research report shows what happens when trauma is left unrecognised and families are left without the right support: www.thepotatogroup.o...

Thanks to Sarah Ruston OBE from @adoptionuk.bsky.social for inviting our Research Manager, Gillian Elam, and Chair, @euanpreston, onto the Family Matters podcast to talk about The POTATO Group’s research, 𝘍𝘢𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳. www.adoptionuk.org/family-matte...

Torn: A powerful short film written by James Evans. When everything you treasure is tossed in a bin bag, what does that say about you? youtu.be/RetbmVOy-tA?...

Many thanks @alcoates.bsky.social & @gayadoptiondad.bsky.social for having our Research Manager, Gillian Elam, and Chair, @euanpreston.bsky.social, on The Adoption and Fostering Podcast to talk about our research report. www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-4r...

Thank you to @alisonebennett.bsky.social for continuing to fight for the needs of adoptive and kinship children. We need more MPs to take action like this. Tag your MP and ask them to do just that. #fundnoworpaylater #ACutTooFar #asgsf #carenotcuts

Some pods to listen out for: 2. Today Sarah Ruston spoke with us on @adoptionuk.bsky.social’s Family Matters podcast, again about our research, which you can (and should) find here: www.thepotatogroup.o...

Some pods to listen out for: 1. Last week, @alcoates.bsky.social & @gayadoptiondad.bsky.social very kindly invited our chair @euanpreston and research manager Gillian Elam onto @aandfpodcast.bsky.social to talk about our research, which you can (and should) find here: www.thepotatogroup.o...

Our research reveals the realities of modern adoption. 438 families shared experiences of parenting children living with the impact of early-life trauma. Read the full report: www.thepotatogroup.o...

Published today: Our research report, Far, Far Beyond the Adoption Order: Lessons from lives Impacted by Trauma. Based on the experiences of 438 adoptive families, it reveals long-term impact of early trauma and urgent need for better support. Read here: www.thepotatogroup.o...

On Monday, we'll publish our full research report Far, Far Beyond the Adoption Order: Lessons from Lives Impacted by Trauma. This is more than a report; it’s a testament to love, courage and commitment from families. Register to receive it: research@thepotatogr...

Speechless. How can someone this ignorant be permitted to sit on the Cambridgeshire County Council Children and Young People Committee? www.youtube.com/watc...

❤️ 🥔 www.un.org/en/observ...

This is absolutely hairs-standing-on-end, tingly-rushes-down-the-spine, pretending-not-to-well-up beautiful. @katiegm.bsky.social‬ youtu.be/utVxi5MSNPs?...

I have a question for the chancellor. #asgsf @asgsfprotest.bsky.social

Very reassuring to hear so many MPs joining our calls for a reversal of changes to the #ASGSF in today's Westminster Hall debate led by Rebecca Smith MP. Deeply grateful for members' contributions showing that the changes will bring significant harm to vulnerable families.

The evening before we travel to London to fight for our families once again, here is a reminder of our protest march, and why we're campaining. Tmrw we're attending the House of Commons to explain to MPs why the #ASGSF is such a crucial lifeline for adoptive and kinship families.

Ok so who's up for forming a Massive Hassle tribute band? www.youtube.com/watc...

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A crow just flew past me carrying a bag of crisps. An omen?

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On 14th April this year, the government announced it was slashing funding for essential support for some of the most vulnerable children & young adults in England. Our community has come together to ask government to reconsider. @asgsfprotest.bsky.social

Help us to protect some of the most vulnerable children and young adults in England. A group of us will be taking this petition to No. 10 Downing Street on Saturday. Please help us to reach 15,000 signatures. chng.it/dtt4rgWqzM @asgsfprotest.bsky.social

With thanks to Dr Amber Elliott of @tcps-uk.bsky.social for her analysis of the cuts to #ASGSF Adopters & kinship carers know the devastating impact on children & society in short & long term. #fundnoworpaylater #CareNotCuts Sign: chng.it/HYDk7cswhp Protest: www.facebook.com/share/1EEAib...

Encouraging and reassuring to see how much of the adoption and kinship community are giving their backing to the @asgsfprotest.bsky.social campaign. www.asgsfprotest.com

Can any help us cover the costs of organising the protest march on May 3rd? We need to hire some radios and pay for some other bits and pieces. None of us are in a position to cover these costs. Donate and share? TO BE CLEAR...1/2 www.gofundme.com/f/asgsf-prot...

ANNOUNCEMENT || Information re Protest March on Downing Street here and attached asgsfprotest.com/information/ #FundNowOrPayLater #CareNotCuts #ACutTooFar @adoptionuk.bsky.social @kinshipcharity.bsky.social @thepotatogroup.bsky.social @thebelayfoundation.org.uk @cvaauk.bsky.social

Clare Solomons and I were guests on an emergency episode of @aandfpodcast.bsky.social discussing the @asgsfprotest.bsky.social campaign. Thanks for having us, @gayadoptiondad.bsky.social and @alcoates.bsky.social. open.spotify.com/episode/2TiO...

Adopters & kinship carers are discrete beings when it comes to their families' stories. We share our stories in peer groups comforting each other when no-one else understands the extent at which we need to fight. These cuts have broken many of us. Help us. change.org/p/action-aga...

Today we (@kinshipcharity.bsky.social) have joined @adoptionuk.bsky.social @cvaauk.bsky.social and @wearecoram.bsky.social to write to the Secretary of State to urge the government to reconsider changes to the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF). kinship.org.uk/our-work-and...

The Potato Group is backing calls for the government to reverse the changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. Please consider signing this petition, and joining us on May 3rd in London. #asgsf

We're publishing research on the challenges faced by families raising traumatised adopted teens & young adults. Based on insights from 438 parents caring for 690 young people, it highlights urgent needs in mental health, education, and social care. tinyurl.com/2kufswe8

Extremely disappointed that during the Easter break, ministers have slipped out cuts in support for the most vulnerable children from the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. I have written to Bridget Phillipson to call for these changes to be reversed immediately 👇🏽

Statement following changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. www.thepotatogroup.o...

Film cameras don't have GPS and my memory function has been eroded by 30 years of wine so you'll just have to guess where this is.

Horses and crows, Bamburgh, Northumberland. Ilford HP5+.

This lives in my head for days at a time. Best theme tune of the 2020s imho. youtu.be/NmS3m0OG-Ug...

Today is #WorldCancerDay. Molly, aged 11, found a lump on her neck which turned out to be thyroid cancer. And so we made a film about it. youtu.be/vJC1tQxNHOc?...

Beautifully crafted documentary series by @phoebemcindoe.bsky.social, about the tens of thousands of vulnerable children groomed and trafficked into county lines gangs, subsequent statutory safeguarding failure, and the criminalisation of victims. CW/TW; It’s a tough listen. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds...

Fine dining on our way to @thepotatogroup.bsky.social AGM.

I am here. 🥰