o need the court’s leave to make an application. 7.24. The circumstances in which a birth parent or relative would be most likely to seek the court’s leave to apply for a section 8 contact order after adoption are those where an agreement for some form of continuing contact had been made, but was not adhered to. The agency may have an important role to play in supporting the child and the adults concerned in such a situation. Assistance, including mediation services, in relation to contact between an adoptive child and birth relatives or other connected people is one of the adoption support services that local authorities must make available under regulation 3 of the Adoption Support Services Regulations 2005 (ASR) (see chapter 9). With the agreement of the adoptive parents the local authority may be able to make enquiries as to the reasons why the contact agreed has not taken place, and to consider whether it would be in the interests of the child’s welfare to offer support to enable it to resume. Support for the person who has been denied the expected contact will 123 also be necessary, and could if appropriate be provided by another adoption agency or adoption support agency. 7.25. The case of Re T (Adopted children: contact) [1995] 3 WLR 793, [1995] 2 FLR 792 suggested that a refusal by adoptive parents to adhere to an agreement for contact may be sufficient to enable the birth relative concerned to obtain leave to apply for a section 8 contact order. The adoptive parents in this situation may wish to obtain legal representation. The local authority should also provide as much support as possible to minimise the risk of an adverse effect on the child’s welfare. A mediated outcome is more likely to be successful than an order obtained after a disputed court applicati