Child Trust Fund Bill to be heard in parliament
3 mins read
Tuesday 30 June 2026
Today, the Child Savings Accounts (Mental Capacity and Disability) Bill will be heard in Parliament.
The 10 Minute Rule Bill is focused on ensuring fair access to savings for young disabled people who lack mental capacity in Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs.
The Bill has been secured by John Milne, the local MP of Andrew Turner, the parent carer who has spearheaded the Child Trust Fund campaign over the last five years. The government would need to back the Bill for it to become law.
Justice Minister meets parent carers whose children are locked out of savings
Families with disabled young people affected by the Child Trust Fund issue brought their voices directly to the heart of government last week, in a crucial meeting with Baroness Levitt, the Justice Minister charged with tackling the issue.
Organised by Contact, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the meeting gave a group of parent carers the opportunity to share the significant hurdles that they face when trying to access savings legally belonging to their disabled children.
Under current rules, when a young person lacks the mental capacity to manage their own finances at 18, families are forced to navigate the complex, lengthy, and often costly Court of Protection process just to access their Child Trust Fund.
A powerful step forward for parent voice
This meeting marks a major milestone in our ongoing mission to amplify parent voice and ensure decision-makers understand the barriers that families often face. Parent carers spoke passionately about the emotional and financial strain caused by the current system and we are grateful to them for taking the time to do so.
Baroness Levitt showed a genuine, heartfelt commitment to finding a lasting resolution for disabled families. Having a minister engage so constructively with our community is a positive step forward.
From commitment to action
While the Minister’s commitment has given families renewed hope, the message from parent carers remains clear: we now need urgent action.
“Thousands of disabled young adults in England and Wales still have their savings locked away – money designed to help a young person when they turned 18 and often added to by family” says Campaigns Engagement Lead at Contact, Maria Scholey.
“Whilst many leading financial providers such as One Family, Foresters, Nationwide, Santander and the Co-Operative Bank are using an industry process that mirrors the appointee scheme to release funds safely, others are not. This is why a government backed approach is essential to ensure that all young people can access their savings”.
Next steps
Contact is attending a roundtable organised by Baroness Levitt on the 8 July, attended by parent carers, officials and financial providers. The aim is to turn these positive conversations into the concrete solution that families deserve.
Need help?
See Child Trust Fund campaign for more information, including our easy to use Child Trust Fund flowchart. You can also join our dedicated Unlock Our Savings – Child Trust Funds & JISAs for disabled young people | Facebook.