At GAIN, we are committed to advocating for fairness and accessibility in all aspects of life, including financial systems that impact young people, particularly those with neurodivergence.
We fully support OneFamily’s call for urgent reforms to address a system that has locked an estimated 80,000 young adults out of £200m in savings. This issue, affecting families across the UK, is especially challenging for those with neurodivergent children, who already navigate a complex system that often fails to meet their needs.
The current system forces families of young adults with mental incapacity to apply to the Court of Protection to access Child Trust Fund (CTF) savings. This process is lengthy, costly, and distressing. Families are burdened with legal and financial hurdles for amounts as low as £2,000, making it impractical for many to pursue. Campaigners estimate that by 2029, £200 million in savings could remain untouched if no changes are made.
As leaders in the financial services industry, we support the call led by OneFamily and other stakeholders for a streamlined, government-backed solution. The call comes in an open letter to Heidi Alexander MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice.
For years, CTF providers and key industry voices have advocated for a government-led solution. In 2021, the Ministry of Justice introduced the Mental Capacity Small Payments Scheme, and a public consultation followed. By February 2023, despite 87% of respondents affirming the scheme’s necessity and potential benefits for vulnerable children, the proposal was ultimately rejected. We are, however, encouraged by the industry-driven solution from OneFamily, Foresters, and The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA), which has already simplified access to CTF savings for around 2,000 families. This collaboration within financial services, developed with input from the FCA shows the power of joint efforts to create real change. Yet, with only 70 applications to the Court of Protection for CTF access over three years, it’s evident that the system remains largely inaccessible for many families.
We are calling on the government to support the industry-led solution to streamline the process and reduce complexity for young people with disabilities and neurodiversity. By adopting this approach, firms can ensure that more young people and their families benefit from a simplified, accessible system. This will help close existing gaps, provide greater access to Child Trust Funds, and extend participation beyond individual firm customer bases, enabling broader access at scale.
At GAIN, we are particularly concerned about how this issue impacts neurodivergent young adults. Families with children who have neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism or intellectual disabilities, already face significant challenges. We recognise that the system’s complexity and assumptions about mental capacity can disproportionately impact neurodivergent young people, who may be assessed as lacking capacity at 18. This underscores the need for solutions that respect and accurately assess individual needs. According to the National Autistic Society, 700,000 autistic people in the UK, with around 2% of the young adult population affected by autism. In addition, 1 in 7 people in the UK are neurodivergent, based on a broad estimate of the prevalence of various neurodivergent conditions, with around 1.5% of young adults aged 18-24 have a learning disability (Public Health England, 2023), and 70% of autistic individuals also experience mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression (National Autistic Society). These neurodivergent young adults often struggle with complex systems, including the legal and bureaucratic processes needed to access savings. The additional burden of navigating the Court of Protection process exacerbates the stress of securing the necessary support, further isolating vulnerable young adults who need these financial resources to support their transition into adulthood.
By supporting this campaign, GAIN is advocating with our peers for a system that is truly inclusive. One that ensures vulnerable young people, and their families are not penalised by an outdated process, ensuring that the savings intended to support these young people are not left dormant but are used to improve their lives.
We believe every young person, regardless of their mental capacity or neurodivergence, deserves the opportunity to thrive. Through collective advocacy, we hope a fair and accessible solution will be found, ensuring financial systems work for everyone.
References
1. National Autistic Society – Autism in the UK:URL: https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/autismThis page provides an overview of autism in the UK, including the statistic that approximately 700,000 autistic people live in the UK.
2. Public Health England – Learning Disabilities in the UK:URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learning-disability-and-autism-statisticsThis publication provides statistics on learning disabilities, including the 1.5% figure for young adults with learning disabilities.
3. National Autistic Society – Mental Health in Autism:URL: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/mental-health-and-autismThis page highlights that 70% of autistic individuals experience mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
4. The statistic that 1 in 7 people in the UK are neurodivergent is based on a broad estimate of the prevalence of various neurodivergent conditions, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other cognitive or neurological differences. This figure is commonly cited by organisations like the British Psychological Society (BPS) and NHS England and is used to represent the approximate percentage of the population affected by neurodevelopmental differences.
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