16.03.26

Child Trust Fund Access: Our Recent Webinar with Contact Charity

Since launching our Child Trust Fund Access campaign in 2016, we have been working to highlight the challenges many families face when trying to access savings held in Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and Junior ISA accounts.

Across England and Wales, more than 80,000 disabled young people with learning disabilities could struggle to access money saved in their name. When these young people reach the age of 18, the accounts legally become theirs to manage. However, many do not have the mental capacity to handle financial decisions independently.

Why Accessing a Child Trust Fund Can Be Difficult

For young people who lack the mental capacity to manage their finances, parents and carers cannot automatically take control of the account once the child turns 18.

Instead, families are often required to apply to the Court of Protection to gain legal authority to manage the funds. This typically involves becoming their child’s Deputy.

The process can be:

• Complicated and time-consuming

• Expensive for families

• Difficult to navigate without specialist guidance

As a result, many families find themselves facing significant barriers when trying to access savings that were originally set aside to support their child’s future.

To help families better understand their options, we were invited by our partners at Contact to participate in an online webinar in January this year.

The session provided an opportunity for parents and carers to hear from our Managing Director Philip Warford, and ask questions directly about managing Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs for young people who lack mental capacity.

Topics Covered in the Session

During the live discussion, the panel covered a range of important topics, including:

• How Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs work

• Steps to find your Child Trust Fund provider

• An introduction to the Mental Capacity Act

• Understanding the Court of Protection application process

• Practical actions parent carers can take to support their child

Watch the Event Recording

If you were unable to join the live session, you can watch the full recording of the event here: