Kinship's new research 'Making work pay for kinship carers' reveals nearly half of kinship carers (45%) lose jobs and careers when they step up to raise a relative or friend’s child to stop them going into care.
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
Changes to the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF)
On 14 April 2025, the government announced several changes to the way the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will operate in 2025-26. Read our full response, including key points from the announcement.
We know this announcement will be frustrating for many kinship families, and it may cause a lot of stress and uncertainty. But you are not alone.
For more information on the fund and what the changes mean for you, see our advice guide.
For questions about eligibility or applications, please contact your local authority. You can find your local authority and their contact details using our Kinship Compass tool.
Join us at a Kinship Roadshow
You might have heard about our Kinship Roadshows, but what’s it like to attend one, and what should you expect? Watch as we follow Kieron, a kinship carer to his 3 grandchildren, as he attends a Kinship Roadshow for the first time.
We have a number of free roadshows coming up across England. Sign up now for a chance to connect, share, and discover support in a welcoming space.
Other upcoming training and events
As well as our roadshows, we run lots of free workshops for kinship carers, both in person and online. These cover a range of subjects to offer support for every step of your journey. See all upcoming workshops on:
Watch our Young Champions' animation
We’re so excited to share this new animated film about growing up in kinship care.
Written and voiced by young people in kinship care, the film explores what life is like in a kinship family. It was created as part of our Young Champions project, funded by BBC Children in Need.
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.
Latest news and highlights
Take a look at some of our latest news and highlights from across Kinship.
BBC Gladiators winner Joe Fishburn paid tribute to all the ‘unsung heroes’ like the grandmother who raised him when he visited Kinship's Newcastle support group for kinship carers.
The government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently making its way through Parliament. But what does it mean for kinship families?
Find out how we're campaigning for change
Kinship care has been undervalued for too long. Research shows that kinship carers contribute £4.3 billion to the economy per year. Yet many are struggling to make ends meet. We think that’s not fair.
That’s why we’re calling on the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to give all kinship carers the financial support they need.
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.
Find out how you become a kinship carer, and what to expect from the process.
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.
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