Parents ‘broken’ by withdrawal of adoption payments say funding is a ‘postcode lottery’
Michelle Haigh can still remember the first time she saw a picture of her adopted son, Thomas.
Unable to have children, she and her husband Gary had decided they’d like to begin a family of their own, contacting a regional adoption agency nearby, One Adoption South Yorkshire.
She said: “We got profiles sent to us, where you read the background story, and then Thomas’s profile came through our letterbox.
Gary Haigh with two of the three brothers they have adopted
“I knew he was my boy, as soon as I saw him and I instantly said I wanted to proceed.”
Nine years on, the couple have not only taken in Thomas, who is now 10, but also his siblings, Lucas, 8, and Freddie, 5.
However, Michelle says their family unit has been “broken,” by a decision to withdraw their financial support, known as the adoption allowance.
The Haighs claim that, despite encouraging them to keep the boys together and promising to support each boy until they turned eighteen, they received little notice from their local authority before the money was stopped.
Sarah Johal, the National Strategic Adoption Lead for England, said their story is one of a growing number of similar cases, with local authorities, who all set their own adoption allowance policies, trying to save money in a difficult financial climate.
Ms Johal wants ministers to standardise the financial support given to adoptive parents, adding that the current guidance needs to be changed.
Gary Haigh and his adopted sons playing football
She said: “I think essentially, it is left to each local authority to use their discretion as to how they apply the regulations and guidance.
“It’s quite outdated and it doesn’t necessarily reflect the reality of the children and families we currently support.”
As it stands, adoption allowance is a blend of legislation and statutory guidance, set by each local authority at their discretion.
It is designed to encourage people to take in children who might otherwise not be adopted due to the extra costs of looking after them and is usually paid weekly or monthly.
The amount paid is often calculated based on the adoptive parents’ incomes.
Michelle says officials gave them little notice before the money was stopped
Ms Johal is also calling on the government to create a uniform means testing tool, completely waiving the financial assessment in certain cases involving children that wait longer for adoption such as sibling groups, children with complex additional needs and those from ethnic minority groups.
“It feels that if we can get more guidance around how local authorities use that discretion and in what circumstances and get more agreement around that across the country, it would be really helpful.”
The postcode lottery she described is being felt by the Haighs.
Their funding, which was originally around £631 a fortnight has been partially restored, but they are still feeling the financial strain.
The family’s adoption funding has been withdrawn
The pair, who live in West Yorkshire, have been forced to take out loans, cut back on essentials and put their home on the market, changes that have affected them and the children.
Gary Haigh said: “We try and keep them out of it, so they’re not aware of it, but they see arguments all the time from us about money.
“They’re asking: ‘Why can’t we go on holiday when our friends go on holiday, why can’t we go to the park, why haven’t we got this or that?'”
His wife said: “I’m constantly feeling like I’m letting them down because I’m worried about money.
“Every time we get a payment, we’re now feeling insecure at the fact that the next payment might not arrive in the next fortnight. I’m so stressed out that I’m not being the best mum I can be for my boys.
The pressure has left them seeking mental health support for Thomas who worries the house being for sale means he will be sent to another family.
His brother Lucas has cerebral palsy, meaning he already needs additional support.
A recent survey by the charity Adoption UK found adoptive parents are struggling with the cost of living crisis and most have not received more support.
It revealed 26% of adoptive parents said they were in receipt of adoption allowances or other financial support from their agency.
Of these, only 6% said there had been an increase in the amount paid during 2022.
Alison Woodhead, Adoption UK’s Director of Public Affairs and Communications, also called for more consistent guidance on the financial support available.
She said: “For one-off payments and ongoing allowances, we need clear national standards defining under which circumstances these will be awarded, and how much is appropriate in various cases.
“The current situation is vague, subject to too much interpretation and is not centred around the needs of the child.”
Doncaster Council said: “The current guidance was reviewed in early 2022. It outlines that an allowance can be paid to the adoptive parent(s) for sibling groups for every subsequent sibling placed with the family.
“Every adoptive family can request a Statutory Assessment Support Need from their local Regional Adoption Agency… this looks at a range of needs from mental health, and the need for therapeutic services, to additional support during the child’s education.”
Former Manchester United and Scotland footballer Denis Law has died, at the age of 84.
In a statement, his family said: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle, but finally, he is now at peace.
“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently.
“We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference.”
Denis Law in 2005. Pic: PA
The Aberdeen-born footballer previously announced in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
A prolific striker, Law scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for Manchester United, for whom he signed for a then-British record transfer fee in 1962.
He is the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford – one on the Stretford End concourse, the other as part of the United Trinity statue overlooking the stadium’s forecourt beside fellow great George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton.
Denis Law, third from left, as a statue featuring him alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best – known as the ‘holy trinity’ – was unveiled in 2008. Pic: AP
The only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or award, in 1964, he was also part of United’s triumphant campaign in the 1968 European Cup – in which they became the first English club to ever win the competition.
In a statement, the club said: “Everyone at Manchester United is mourning the loss of Denis Law, the King of the Stretford End, who has passed away, aged 84.
“He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.
Denis Law, centre, during Manchester United’s triumphant European Cup campaign in 1968. Pic: AP
“The ultimate goalscorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation. Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’s family and many friends. His memory will live on forever more.”
Wayne Rooney, former United captain and the club’s all-time record goalscorer, described Law as a “legend”.
“Thoughts with all Denis’s family and friends,” he said in an online post.
Another former United captain, Gary Neville, said: “A great footballer and a great man. It’s a privilege and an honour to have spent time in your company. The King of the Stretford End.”
A tribute from the Scotland national team said Law was “a true great”.
“We will not see his likes again,” it said.
Law also played for Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, and Italian club Torino during his club career, and made 55 appearances for Scotland, scoring 30 goals for his country.
Manchester City said in a post on X: “The whole of Manchester, including everyone at City, is mourning with you. Rest in peace, Denis.”
The UK’s benchmark stock index has reached another record high.
The FTSE 100 index of most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange closed at 8,505.69, breaking the record set last May.
It had already broken its intraday high at 8532.58 on Friday afternoon, meaning it reached a high not seen before during trading hours.
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The weakened pound has boosted many of the 100 companies forming the top-flight index.
Why is this happening?
Most are not based in the UK, so a less valuable pound means their sterling-priced shares are cheaper to buy for people using other currencies, typically US dollars.
This makes the shares better value, prompting more to be bought. This greater demand has brought up the prices and the FTSE 100.
The pound has been hovering below $1.22 for much of Friday. It’s steadily fallen from being worth $1.34 in late September.
Also spurring the new record are market expectations for more interest rate cuts in 2025, something which would make borrowing cheaper and likely kickstart spending.
What is the FTSE 100?
The index is made up of many mining and international oil and gas companies, as well as household name UK banks and supermarkets.
Familiar to a UK audience are lenders such as Barclays, Natwest, HSBC and Lloyds and supermarket chains Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s.
Other well-known names include Rolls-Royce, Unilever, easyJet, BT Group and Next.
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FTSE stands for Financial Times Stock Exchange.
If a company’s share price drops significantly it can slip outside of the FTSE 100 and into the larger and more UK-based FTSE 250 index.
The inverse works for the FTSE 250 companies, the 101st to 250th most valuable firms on the London Stock Exchange. If their share price rises significantly they could move into the FTSE 100.
A good close for markets
It’s a good end of the week for markets, entirely reversing the rise in borrowing costs that plagued Chancellor Rachel Reeves for the past ten days.
Fears of long-lasting high borrowing costs drove speculation she would have to cut spending to meet self-imposed fiscal rules to balance the budget and bring down debt by 2030.
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They Treasury tries to calm market nerves late last week
Long-term government borrowing had reached a high not seen since 1998 while the benchmark 10-year cost of government borrowing, as measured by 10-year gilt yields, was at levels last seen around the 2008 financial crisis.
The gilt yield is effectively the interest rate investors demand to lend money to the UK government.
Only the pound has yet to recover the losses incurred during the market turbulence. Without that dropped price, however, the FTSE 100 record may not have happened.
Also acting to reduce sterling value is the chance of more interest rates. Currencies tend to weaken when interest rates are cut.
UK
Nazi-obsessed terrorist Callum Parslow jailed after trying to murder asylum seeker at Worcestershire hotel
A Nazi-obsessed man has been jailed for attempted murder after he stabbed an asylum seeker in a terrorist attack.
Callum Parslow was handed a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 22 years and eight months in prison after he knifed the man at a Worcestershire hotel on 2 April last year, as a “protest” against small boat crossings.
The victim, Nahom Hagos, from Eritrea, said it was a “miracle” he survived after being stabbed in the chest and hand.
Parslow, 32, has Hitler’s signature tattooed on his arm and used a £770 knife he had bought online to attack Mr Hagos when he was eating in the conservatory of the Pear Tree Inn at Hindlip.
During sentencing, the judge, Mr Justice Dove, told Parslow: “You committed a vicious and unprovoked assault on a complete stranger Nahom Hagos who suffered devastating injuries as a result of your violence.”
The judge also said Parslow, from Worcester, was “motivated by your adoption of a far-right neo-Nazi mindset which fuelled your warped, violent and racist views”, and added: “This was undoubtedly a terrorist attack.”
He was found guilty of attempted murder in October last year.
Callum Parslow. Pic: West Midlands Police/PA
Leicester Crown Court heard at the time that Mr Hagos, who used to live at the hotel, was visiting a friend and was stabbed after Parslow asked him for directions to the toilet.
CCTV from the scene showed Mr Hagos fleeing to a car park and being chased by Parslow. He was able to run back into the main reception area, where the hotel manager locked the front door.
Parslow later re-entered through another door apparently searching for further victims, the court heard.
The hotel manager and a builder used a van to take Mr Hagos to hospital in Worcester, as they felt he was losing too much blood, where he was found to have an 8cm-long wound which had not penetrated any of his vital organs.
After trying to kill Mr Hagos, Parslow ran towards a canal and was spotted with what appeared to be blood on his hands.
Officers found blood containing a DNA profile matching that of the victim on the blade of the knife abandoned by Parslow.
The knife belonging to Parslow. Pic: West Midlands Police/PA
Failed manifesto post
After the stabbing and as police closed in, Parslow tried to post a “terrorist manifesto” on X, tagging Tommy Robinson and politicians including Nigel Farage, Suella Braverman and Sir Keir Starmer.
He wrote that he “just did my duty to England” and had tried to “exterminate” Mr Hagos. However, it failed to send as he copied in too many people.
Others on his list included Laurence Fox, Lee Anderson, Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and various news organisations.
Nazi memorabilia at bedsit
During the trial last October, the court heard an axe, metal baseball bat and a second knife were found at Parslow’s bedsit in Bromyard Terrace in Worcester.
Police also discovered a swastika armband, a Nazi-era medallion and copies of Hitler’s book Mein Kampf.
Nazi memorabilia which was seized at Parslow’s bedsit in Worcester. Pics: West Midlands Police/PA
Jurors were also told Parslow had Hitler’s signature tattooed on his arm “in order to demonstrate his affiliation to the ideals of the leader of the German Nazi party”.
He also pleaded guilty to an unconnected sexual offence and two charges of sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress and anxiety at the time.
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‘The pain feels unbearable’
Mr Hagos told the court in an impact statement he continues to feel “excruciating pain” in his hand after the attack by Parslow.
Read out by the prosecution on Friday, he said: “The pain is unbearable and keeps me awake all night long.
“The pain feels like an electric shock going through my hand and I now have insomnia.”
He then said he had been “living and pursuing a happy life before the incident,” but added: “I feel lonely and don’t feel safe on the street.
“My life has been turned upside down.”
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