Frankie Entwistle 🞄 November 2026
Written by a human, not AI
The government has announced it will be creating a new scheme to allow easier access to child trust fund (CTF) savings for children who don't have mental capacity to access their own savings.
It has committed to introducing an amendment to the Financial Services and Markets Bill to help young people more easily benefit from the money in their accounts.
CTFs were set up to give all children, regardless of background, a head start when they reach 18. But when CTFs began maturing, it quickly became clear that young people without mental incapacity were unable to access their own savings without their families going through the lengthy and often costly Court of Protection process.
At OneFamily, we developed a way to give access without families needing to go through this process, but it wasn't universal.
We've campaigned for change since 2020 after identifying the huge financial and emotional impact this was having on affected families.
The government’s amendment is subject to parliamentary approval, but if approved, it will allow suitable people such as parents and carers to access and manage a young person’s CTF if they lack the mental capacity to do so themselves.
After more than six years of campaigning, I am delighted the government has committed to helping disabled young people and their families access their Child Trust Funds.
These accounts were set up to give every child, regardless of background, a head start in adult life when they turned 18. Yet young people who lack mental capacity have been unable to access their savings without their families going through a lengthy and often costly Court of Protection process.
Today, the government announced it will introduce a power in the Financial Services Bill to allow changes to the rules governing access to these accounts.
This marks a significant step forward that will help thousands of disabled young people across the country access money that belongs to them.
With an average value of £2,600, these accounts can help young adults get the equipment they need for daily life, access additional care and support or enjoy experiences with their loved ones. That is the real difference this change will make to them and their families.
As the UK’s largest Child Trust Fund provider, we are proud to have supported the campaign for this change.
I’d like to thank Andrew Turner, whose tireless campaigning and determination have driven this forward, and to the charity Contact and partners across the industry who have helped build momentum for change.
Jim Islam, Chief Executive Officer, OneFamily
