Thousands of kinship carers are set to be better supported as the Government today launches the first ever National Kinship Care Strategy, ‘Championing Kinship Care’.
The strategy shines a spotlight on the incredible kinship carers - grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and wider family networks - that provide loving homes to children who cannot live with their parents, and who will now receive greater financial stability and support from local authorities and schools. More than 130,000 children live in kinship care arrangements in England and kinship carers make up over a fifth of all foster carers. There are also a range of other formal and informal routes for extended family members to provide additional support to children in kinship care arrangements, including special guardianship.
The strategy sets out a wide range of additional support for kinship carers, from new training and information so they have a better understanding of their rights, to high-quality peer support within local communities.
Backed by £20 million of new funding to deliver the strategy, the Government has confirmed it will provide an allowance to many kinship carers to match that received by foster carers - currently between £154 and £270 per week, per child.
Foster care has also been bolstered today with an additional £8.5 million in funding. This takes the total Government investment across this Parliament to £36 million, the largest ever investment in fostering in England.
Children and Families Minister, David Johnston MP, said:
“Kinship carers do incredible work to support and nurture children who might otherwise go into care and I am very proud that the Government has published the first ever strategy for kinship care today.”
Rebecca Harris MP said:
“Keeping children safe means being providing support and care which keeps families together. With this new Kinship Care Strategy, we can support carers who do such a vital job every day.”
If you are interested in fostering a child or believe you may be eligible for kinship, you can read about the qualifications and steps here, on the Essex County Council website.
