Family Fund’s Response to the Welsh Budget

On 20 January, Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, published the Welsh Government’s Final Budget for 2026-27, setting out spending plans for the year ahead.

Family Fund’s Policy and Public Affairs team has reviewed the Budget to understand what it could mean for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people in Wales. Key points include:

· Additional Learning Needs (ALN): a further £5m to support national consistency and sustainable delivery of provision for children and young people with ALN, building on £9.1m already invested in the Draft Budget.

· Supporting young people into opportunities: £1m additional funding for Jobs Growth Wales Plus, providing further support to young people with ALN.

· Sporting facilities: an additional £0.5m capital investment through Sport Wales, taking the total capital budget to £11m, with facilities like pitches, courts, and clubhouses referenced as examples.

This investment is welcome, but families’ experiences are shaped by delivery, not announcements. We are calling for:

· Consistent support across Wales, so children and families do not face a postcode lottery in access to ALN provision.

· Accessibility built in from the start, so investment in facilities translates into real inclusion for disabled children and young people.

In 2026, we will continue to work with families and partners to ensure policy decisions translate into practical, day-to-day support.

If you have views on what families need most, email: [email protected] or take part in our survey: https://forms.office.com/e/Z3raecXdZe?origin=lprLink