Millions of young people in the UK have a Child Trust Fund (CTF) they may not know about. If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, the government gave you a savings voucher worth £250 or more at birth. That money could now be worth significantly more. This guide explains everything you need to know about finding your CTF, what to do with it, and how to transfer it to a better account.
Estimate how much a Child Trust Fund may have grown since it was opened.
The Child Trust Fund was a government initiative introduced in 2002 under the then Chancellor Gordon Brown. Its aim was to ensure every child in the UK had a financial nest egg when they reached adulthood. Every eligible child received a government voucher to start their CTF account, with wealthier families encouraged to top it up.
CTF scheme launched. Children born from this date are eligible.
Government issues vouchers at birth: £250 for all children, £500 for those on Child Tax Credit (lower income families). All looked-after children receive £500. A second voucher of the same value is issued at age 7.
CTF scheme closes to new applicants. The last vouchers were issued for children born on 2 January 2011. Junior ISA introduced as the replacement.
Government allows CTF holders to transfer their balance into a Junior ISA for better rates and options.
First CTF holders begin turning 18 and can access their accounts. HMRC launches online CTF finder tool.
Children born in 2007 are now turning 18. Hundreds of thousands accessing CTF accounts each year. Over £2 billion estimated in unclaimed accounts.
Many CTF accounts have been lost because families moved house, changed contact details, or simply forgot. Here is how to find yours:
There were three main types of CTF account:
The value of a CTF in 2025 depends on several factors:
Government estimates suggest the average CTF is worth around £2,000 by age 18 with no additional contributions. Accounts where families contributed regularly could be worth £5,000-£20,000 or more. Stakeholder CTFs invested in shares have generally performed well given the strong stock market returns from 2009-2021.
| Feature | Child Trust Fund | Junior ISA |
|---|---|---|
| Available to | Born 2002-2011 | All under-18s |
| Annual limit | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Govt voucher | Yes (historic) | No |
| Tax-free growth | Yes | Yes |
| Access before 18 | No (except terminal illness) | No (except terminal illness) |
| Investment choice | Limited (depends on provider) | Wide (many platforms) |
| Charge cap | 1.5% (Stakeholder CTFs) | No cap (shop around) |
| Transfer possible | Can transfer to JISA | Can transfer to another JISA |
Since 2015, you can transfer a CTF to a JISA. Here is how:
Both CTFs and Junior ISAs allow contributions of up to £9,000 per tax year. This allowance can be used by anyone - parents, grandparents, other family members, or friends. All contributions belong to the child and cannot be accessed until they turn 18. There is no minimum contribution amount.
Grandparents can make significant tax planning contributions if they wish to reduce their estate for inheritance tax purposes, as gifts to JISAs/CTFs count as gifts for IHT purposes.
When the child turns 18, the CTF automatically converts to an adult account:
Once you access your CTF at 18, consider these options:
If you have a child with a CTF (or JISA after transfer), regular contributions can significantly boost the final pot. The power of compounding over 18 years is substantial:
Even small regular contributions make a meaningful difference over an 18-year period.
A Child Trust Fund (CTF) was a government savings scheme for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The government gave every eligible child a voucher worth £250 at birth (£500 for lower-income families) and another at age 7. Parents could top up the account each year. The scheme closed to new applicants in January 2011.
You can find a lost Child Trust Fund using HMRC's official online CTF finder at gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund. You will need to log in with a Government Gateway account. HMRC will tell you which provider holds the account. Alternatively, call HMRC's Child Trust Fund helpline on 0300 123 1000.
The average Child Trust Fund is estimated to be worth around £2,000 by the time the child turns 18, though this varies enormously depending on whether parents made additional contributions, whether the CTF was invested in shares or cash, and market performance. Some CTFs invested in stocks have grown significantly; some cash-based ones may have lower real value after inflation.
Yes. Since 2015, you have been able to transfer a Child Trust Fund into a Junior ISA (JISA). This is often advisable because JISAs typically offer better rates, lower charges, and wider investment options than CTFs. To transfer, open a JISA with your chosen provider and ask them to arrange the transfer. You cannot keep both a CTF and a JISA - the CTF must be transferred or closed.
When the child turns 18, the CTF account automatically becomes an adult account held in their name. They can access and withdraw all the money. The provider should contact them with details. If they cannot be reached, the money stays in the account until claimed. There is no time limit on claiming, and the money does not expire.
The annual subscription limit for a Child Trust Fund is £9,000 per tax year (the same limit as a Junior ISA). Contributions can be made by parents, grandparents, friends, or family. The money belongs to the child and cannot be withdrawn before age 18 except in cases of terminal illness.
It is estimated that over 6 million Child Trust Fund accounts have been forgotten or are unclaimed. Many of these belong to young people who turned 18 and do not know they have an account. The total unclaimed value runs into billions of pounds. Using HMRC's CTF finder is the first step to claiming what is rightfully yours.