What is a Child Trust Fund?

A Child Trust Fund is a tax-free savings account created by the government for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

Each eligible child received an initial government deposit of at least £250. The idea was to provide young people with a pot of money when they turn 18 and to encourage a saving habit.

Once you turn 16, you can take control of the account. But it’s not until you turn 18 that you can take out any money.

What could it be worth?

The average Child Trust Fund is worth approximately £2,200 (based on HM Revenue & Customs data published September 2025).

Have you got one?

You may have a Child Trust Fund if:

• you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011
• you were living in the UK and not subject to immigration control 

If your parent/guardian did not set one up for you, the government automatically opened one.

Check if you have one by using the government’s free Child Trust Fund finder tool on gov.uk.

Find a Child Trust Fund

Do you know what you’ll do with your Child Trust Fund?

Yes, I’ve got a plan No, I’m not sure

That’s great

Whether you’re saving, spending, or a bit of both, having a plan is a healthy financial habit.

If you’re thinking about saving, check out an easy guide to our savings accounts. It might give you some savings inspiration.

Discover NS&I savings

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Take your time

That's okay. The money’s not going anywhere.

But, while you’re thinking, it’s worth considering your saving options.

Save or spend extra money?

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Saving options with NS&I

There are lots of things you could do with your Child Trust Fund money, but if you’re thinking about saving then we can help with that. To get you started, here's a quick look at some of the savings options we offer at NS&I:

Question 1

When might you want to access your money?

You might need it at any time You can lock it away for a year or more

Start building your savings habit

You may not have a Child Trust Fund, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about savings. Saving takes discipline, which is a powerful skill. But putting a little aside, when you can, gives the future you more opportunities.
See what you could do for your future self:
 

• Financial terms explained

  Tax free means that interest or prizes are exempt from UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

  AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) illustrates what the annual rate of interest would be if the interest was compounded each time it was paid. Where interest is paid annually, the quoted rate and the AER are the same.

  Gross is the taxable rate of interest without the deduction of UK Income Tax.