Kinship carers win gold at the Smiley Charity Film Awards

We are thrilled to share that our This Is Kinship Care animated film won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in our category at the annual Smiley Charity Film Awards.

Kinship won the award after receiving the largest popular vote for a film made by a charity of our size this year. The awards ceremony took place at the indigo at the O2 on 20 March 2025.

A group of 5 kinship carers wrote and voiced the moving film. Production company, My Pockets, created the animation. The film was launched during Kinship Care Week 2024.

In the film, kinship carers speak to the joy, warmth, humour, love, as well as the challenges of being a kinship family. By bravely sharing their  kinship stories, they have helped raise much-needed awareness of kinship care.

Film participants, Kieron and Zoe, were thrilled to accept the award on behalf of the group.

Reflecting on the night, Zoe, an aunt kinship carer from Chesterfield said: “It was an absolute privilege to accept the award on behalf of Kinship and all kinship carers.”
 
Kieron, a grandfather kinship carer from Doncaster also shared: “I hope that anyone who watches our film feels like they are not alone on their kinship journey. There are hundreds and thousands of us just waiting to tell our stories.”