Kinship to lead major new research on the experiences of kinship families

Kinship is today announcing a major new project, supported by the KPMG Foundation, to deepen understanding about the experiences of kinship families from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, to catalyse positive changes in its services and across the sector.

Existing evidence shows kinship care is more prevalent in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  Children from these backgrounds are more likely to be in informal kinship care, where entitlements to support are at the most limited.

However, there is a major research gap in contemporary research on the prevalence or experience of kinship carers in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care highlighted addressing this research gap as a priority and we are grateful to be supported by KPMG  Foundation to start this work.

Kinship will bring together research from academic partners with the lived experience of kinship carers over two years to better understand the prevalence and reasons why children are in kinship care in these communities, as well as the challenges they face. Working with a social design agency we will then co-produce plans with kinship carers and sector representatives to develop insight about the best ways to reach and improve support and services for kinship carers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic families.

Lucy Peake, CEO at Kinship said:

“As the largest provider of kinship care support services in England and Wales, Kinship’s work is informed by evidence. However, the dearth of research and understanding about kinship care families from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities means that we, and others, have gaps in our knowledge when developing services to meet the needs of these families. This is leaving thousands of vulnerable kinship families without support that is tailored to their specific needs or experiences.

“We’re delighted to be supported by the KPMG Foundation to commission this critical research with meaningful participation from kinship families. We’re committed not only to ensuring that it informs the development of our own services but to working with local authorities and others to improve the design and delivery of services for Black, Asian and minority ethnic kinship families.

“We would like to thank the KPMG Foundation for their generous support and shared commitment to our vision of a society where all kinship carers and the children they care for are recognised, valued and supported.”

Judith McNeill, CEO, KPMG Foundation said:

“As the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in England highlighted, there is a real urgency in addressing the lack of research into the experience of Black, Asian and minority ethnic kinship families, as the focus on improving support for kinship care grows.

“The KPMG Foundation is proud to be supporting this work to deepen understanding and  influence the development of services across the sector that are inclusive and responsive to the diversity of the thousands of kinship families do so much for the children they care for but are so often overlooked.”

Kinship will be seeking expressions of interest from academic partners shortly and research is expected to start early 2023. For further information please contact Vikkie.Chapman@kinship.org.uk.