Find out how you become a kinship carer, and what to expect from the process.
We are Kinship
The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. Let’s commit to change for kinship families.
Get support and advice
Kinship Care Week 2024
Kinship Care Week (7 to 13 October 2024) is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible role that kinship carers play in children’s lives and society. It’s also an important time to help everyone understand what kinship care is. This year, the theme of Kinship Care Week is #ThisIsKinshipCare.
Kinship care in England and Wales
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More than 141,000 children are in kinship care in England and Wales
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Nearly 1 in 5 kinship carers feel lonely often or always
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More than 1/3 of kinship carers experienced an income drop of more than 50% after stepping up to take on the care of a child
Kinship Compass: find independent information, support and advice in your area
We know kinship care is complex and confusing. Use Kinship Compass to discover what support is available to you, both locally and nationally, to help you navigate your kinship journey.
Get information and expert advice
We provide information and advice on all issues affecting kinship carers. Browse our advice collections, take a look at some of our most popular advice articles below or contact our advice team for free, expert information and advice.
Stepping up to raise a child can be expensive, and money worries are common for kinship carers. Find out what financial support and benefits are available to you.
How to plan and organise contact time with family to reduce stress and make it a positive experience for the child.
Talk to someone
Being a kinship carer is rewarding, but hard. We’re here for the good days and the bad days. For the ups and the downs. And everything in-between. Because we’re here for you.
Find your nearest peer support group
Peer support groups are a great way to meet other kinship carers, share your experiences and exchange advice. Find your nearest group.
View Find your nearest peer support group
Speak to someone like you
Want to talk to someone who understands what you’re experiencing as a kinship carer? Our specially trained kinship carer volunteers are here to listen through our free Someone Like Me service.
View Speak to someone like you
Contact the Kinship advice team
Find out more about our advice service, how they can help, and how to get in touch with them.
View Contact the Kinship advice teamLatest news and highlights
Take a look at some of our latest news and highlights from across Kinship.
Kinship’s new research shows that a lack of financial and other support is stopping kinship foster carers moving to kinship arrangements outside the care system.
Kinship’s new report Forgotten: Support for kinship children’s education and mental health highlights that children in kinship care are often suffering from life-changing trauma with no support.
Following recent events in Southport and the huge impact on communities across the country, Kinship issue a statement on disorder and racism.
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