Kinship responds to the Spending Review

In response to the government’s Spending Review announcement, we have released the following statement:

“We’re pleased the government’s Spending Review includes a £555 million investment in children’s social care reform to help keep more children within their families, ‘ensuring they have timely support’.

“We need more information as soon as possible on how this investment will be spent. It’s vital that it supports the urgent delivery of improved financial, practical and emotional support for all kinship carers who step up to keep children within loving stable homes and out of the care system.

“This government promised to champion kinship carers and put kinship care at the heart of plans to reform children’s social care. Now it’s time to deliver this promise.

“Kinship families who face immense financial and emotional strain have waited for the Chancellor’s Spending Review for a very long time and need to hear how they will be better supported.

“We eagerly await to hear more information about the long-awaited trial of a kinship allowance for kinship carers announced last autumn, including how this will lead to a wider rollout of financial support for all kinship families.

“We urge the government to quickly deliver on its commitment to improve kinship care with financial support for kinship carers, statutory paid leave from work, and access to therapeutic and educational support for children.

“We won’t stop campaigning until all kinship families get what they need and deserve.”