Progress in our campaign to Unlock Child Trust Funds for disabled young people
3 mins read
Tuesday 15 September 2026
We have some encouraging updates on our work to make accessing Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and Junior ISAs (JISAs) simpler for families with disabled children.
Parliament debates a legal solution
The House of Lords has backed an amendment to the Financial Services Act, put forward by Baroness Kramer.
What does this mean for families?
At present, if a young person turns 18 and lacks the mental capacity to manage their money, parents are often forced to apply through the Court of Protection to obtain Deputyship to access their child’s savings (such as Child Trust Funds). This process can be costly, lengthy, and stressful.
This new amendment creates a clear legal framework allowing finance companies to release these funds directly to families. If passed by the House of Commons, it will turn temporary workaround schemes into a single, permanent rule that applies to all financial institutions and offering families a consistent, straightforward process.
While MPs in the Commons could still reject the change, the strong support in the Lords puts welcome pressure on the government to act. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Baroness Kramer, as well as Lord Blunkett, Lord Young, Sir Ed Davey, John Milne MP and everyone else who voted for this amendment for speaking up for our families.
FCA launches review into unclaimed funds
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced a new review into unclaimed Child Trust Funds. The FCA has confirmed its review will specifically include investigating the exact hurdles parents face when trying to access funds for a disabled young person.
Why does this matter?
Although the final review won’t conclude until 2027, having the financial regulator officially examine these obstacles is an important step forward and a spotlight on what families have been saying for years is going wrong.
Read the update: FCA urges young adults to check for unclaimed Child Trust Funds
Nationwide introduces dedicated support for families
In a positive move for families, Nationwide has launched new website guidance and a dedicated support team to help parents navigate CTF and JISA access. One of the biggest frustrations that parent carers share with us is how hard it can be to reach someone at a bank who understands what to do if their child lacks mental capacity. Nationwide is one of the first major providers to openly publicise their process and offer direct support lines.
Find out more: Nationwide Support for Managing a Child Trust Fund or JISA
How you can get involved
We will keep you updated as the Financial Services Act moves through the House of Commons with how you can get involved. In the meantime, you can read more about how to navigate CTFs and JISA, find out which providers are already helping families, or join our campaign community.
Visit Contact’s Child Trust Fund Campaign & Advice Page and dedicated Facebook group.