Our vision is a society in which kinship carers and the children they care for are recognised, valued and supported.
We campaign to make this vision a reality by working together with kinship carers and other partners to transform policy and practice at local and national levels.
Our annual surveys and research bring the views and experiences of thousands of kinship carers directly to decision makers, and we support and empower kinship carers to become campaigners themselves. The evidence and insights from our extensive work with kinship families supports government, local authorities and others to create real and lasting change for carers and their children. With your help, we also play a key role in raising awareness of kinship care and lead on delivering Kinship Care Week each year.
If you’re a kinship carer and you’d like to campaign together, join our community of kinship carers.
What are we campaigning for?
Our new report – Out of the Shadows: a vision for kinship care in England – outlines the urgent changes we need to see for kinship families now and the longer-term reforms required to create a future fit for kinship care.
Guaranteed financial support for all kinship carers.
Last year, 82% of kinship carers told us they had worried about their finances in the past year and 13% were reliant on food banks to feed their families. We want to see a universal non means tested allowance for all kinship carers that matches the current minimum fostering allowance, and a right to paid kinship care leave on a par with adoption leave.
Access to independent information and advice.
Too many kinship carers are left to navigate their role alone. Our advice team supported over 3,800 kinship carers last year with understanding the family justice system and issues around housing, finances, employment and more. All kinship carers should have access to clear and accessible advice when they need it, including legal advice.
Practical and emotional support for kinship families.
Kinship carers and their children have few rights to access the support they need to thrive. We need to see improved health, education and therapeutic support for children as well as preparation and training, practical, emotional and therapeutic support, peer support, and support for with contact for carers.
Recent briefings and reports
- Submission to the Lords Children and Families Act 2014 Committee call for evidence (Apr 2022)
- Briefing for Westminster Hall debate on support for new adoptive parents (Mar 2022)
- Briefing for Westminster Hall debate on kinship care for babies (Feb 2022)
- Submission to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care’s call for ideas (Dec 2021)
- Submission to the Commission on Young Lives call for evidence (Nov 2021)
Further Kinship publications are available on our research, evaluations and survey page.
