This week (5 to 12 October), the London Borough of Bexley is celebrating the dedication and commitment of kinship carers who provide loving, stable homes for children when they are unable to live with their parents.
Kinship carers play a vital role in keeping children connected to their family networks, helping them to maintain relationships, identity and a sense of belonging during challenging times.
As one of only seven local authorities selected to take part in the Department for Education's Kinship Zones Pilot, Bexley is leading the way in strengthening support for kinship families and helping to bridge the gap between the support available to kinship carers and foster carers.
More than 100 kinship carers in Bexley have already signed up to the pilot's allowance scheme, which provides a guaranteed, non-means-tested weekly allowance throughout the 3.5-year programme.
Alongside the pilot, Bexley has established a dedicated kinship team that provides bespoke and timely support to families. This includes tailored advice, practical assistance and additional training opportunities designed to help carers meet the needs of the children in their care.
The service is already helping to prevent family breakdowns and reduce the need for children to escalate through statutory services. By supporting families early, the programme is helping more children to remain safely within their family networks and reducing the likelihood of them entering the care system.
Councillor Chris Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
Kinship carers make an incredible difference to the lives of children and young people across our Borough. They step forward to provide love, care and stability when it is needed most, often during very difficult circumstances.
We are proud to be part of the Kinship Zones Pilot and to be investing in dedicated support for our kinship families. Through financial assistance, specialist advice and ongoing training, we are helping carers feel more confident and supported in their role.
While the pilot is still in its early stages, we are already seeing positive outcomes for children and families. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to ensure that children can remain safely connected to the people who know and love them best."
Emma Coyne, Service Manager, said:
The support provided by this service is already proving successful in preventing family breakdowns and reducing the need for children to escalate through statutory services, ultimately helping to prevent children from coming into the care system. While the pilot is still in its early days, we are excited to see the positive impact our support can make for children, families and kinship carers across Bexley."
The London Borough of Bexley remains committed to supporting kinship families and ensuring children have the best possible opportunity to thrive within safe, stable and nurturing family environments.