People’s Choice Award 2023 Bronze £2-£5 million turnover
Every child needs love. That is why when parents can't look after a child, it's often best if they can be brought up by a grandparent, uncle, aunt, sibling or a family friend. Someone they know, who can provide the love and stability children need, rather than grow up in the care system. This is known as kinship care.
162,000 children in kinship families across England and Wales know the value of love. But politicians still overlook them and undervalue the role of kinship carers in keeping children out of the care system.
Unlike children in foster care, most of these families receive no financial or practical support - 8 in 10 kinship carers fail to receive crucial local authority support. Over a third (36%) of those not getting the support they need may be unable to continue to care for their kinship child as a result.
As part of Kinship's #ValueOurLove campaign journalist, author and poet Kitty Dimbleby wrote this touching poem to bring to life the realities of being a kinship carer, and demonstrate the the love in kinship families and how this helps children flourish in life. In this film, the poem is read by kinship carers and young people who grew up in kinship care, including Emmerdale actor Jay Kontzle, who was brought up by his grandparents.
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We're here for all kinship carers – the grandparents and siblings, the aunts, uncles, and family friends who step up to raise children when their parents can't.
We use our experience, expertise and strength to change lives. We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
We connect carers together in our national community and network of local support groups, so they don’t have to face the fight alone.
We help professionals understand kinship families and improve support for them. And through our research and campaigns we make sure kinship care is understood and government knows what changes are needed.
We’ll not rest until the recognition and support is there for every kinship family.
We align with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
