Major Child Trust Fund victory for parent carers
4 mins read
Tuesday 3 November 2026
The government is to legislate for a simpler way for young disabled people to access Child Trust Fund savings.
We warmly welcome this fantastic news for tens of thousands of young disabled people and their families. For far too long they have faced a complicated and costly process to access money that rightfully belongs to them.
Campaign win led by parent carer
The breakthrough comes as a direct result of a campaign led by parent carer Andrew Turner. Contact has been proud to support and champion Andrew’s campaign every step of the way.
Anna Bird, Chief Executive of Contact, said:
“First and foremost, we want to pay tribute to Andrew Turner. His courage, dedication, and leadership have been the driving force behind this victory. Andrew’s work demonstrates what can be achieved when parent carers stand up to demand fairness for their children.
“This commitment from the government is a huge moment of relief for families across the UK. For six years, parent carers have faced administrative brick walls trying to access money that rightfully belongs to their young adult children. We are delighted that Minister Jake Richards has listened and committed to the primary legislation needed to fix this once and for all.”
Andrew Turner, parent campaigner, said:
“This bold move from the government is extremely positive news for tens of thousands of young people who have been locked out of their Child Trust Fund savings. By removing the barriers that make it hard for people to invest in child savings schemes for disabled children, you also create the opportunity to build a stronger financial foundation for their future. A simpler process for accessing these savings will release millions of pounds of benefit. And it willhelp reduce the administrative burden on parents supporting a disabled child.
“I am extremely grateful to Minister Richards and the government for their commitment to solving this long-running issue. I look forward to working with them to deliver a much-needed solution.”
What’s the issue?
Some young people have savings in Child Trust Funds, but lack the capacity to manage their own financial affairs. Under current rules, their parents have been forced to navigate the costly, complex, and emotionally draining Court of Protection process to access this money.
The government has announced today that it will pass primary legislation to create an alternative, simplified process. The new legislation will use the industry process that the campaign worked with financial providers to develop, which means that the change should be quick to implement.
Honouring a powerful parent-led campaign
Andrew Turner’s determination to break down these barriers for his own son and thousands of families like his brought national attention to an issue that had left parent carers feeling invisible. Contact has stood alongside Andrew and many other parent carers throughout, pressing ministers and officials for a lasting statutory fix.
The campaign, started by Renaissance Legal, has gained significant high-profile support. This included from finance providers including One Family, Nationwide and Foresters Financial. Cross-party parliamentary support has come from Sarah Smith MP, John Milne MP as well as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Lord David Blunkett and Lord George Young.
The campaign also includes a dedicated Facebook group for families looking for support to access their child’s savings. Contact’s Maria Scholey has led this work. Over the years, Maria has helped hundreds of parent carers access savings, including by creating a flow chart of advice for families unsure where to turn. She has supported Andrew every step of the way, joining meetings with Ministers and parliamentarians.
Looking ahead to the legislative process
Contact and Andrew Turner are today celebrating this major milestone. But we recognise that passing primary legislation involves distinct stages in Parliament.
Contact will continue working closely with parent carers, ministers, officials and financial providers to ensure:
1. Practical interim guidance: Clear, accessible pathways remain available for families whose children turn 18 while the new law is being drafted and passed.
2. Proportionate safeguards: The final system remains straightforward and low-cost for families without introducing unnecessarily complicated processes.
3. Smooth implementation: Banks and building societies are fully prepared to enact the statutory changes without delay once the legislation receives Royal Assent.
Contact will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Andrew Turner and parent carers until the new law is fully enacted and every locked account is opened.