At the end of February, some of Bexley’s kinship carers travelled to Westminster for the launch of a new pilot scheme bringing more investment to help support kinship carers.

Bexley is one of seven local authorities nationally taking part in Kinship Zones – a pilot programme launched by the Department for Education (DfE) to provide more support for kinship carers ahead of a potential national rollout.

Kinship carers are family members or close family friends who take on full parental responsibility when a child is placed into care.

Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Chris Taylor, said: 

Our kinship carers do an essential and important service, keeping children in safe in familiar environments family and with loved ones.

This investment into kinship is welcome and we are pleased to be one of seven boroughs taking part in this pilot scheme.”

Our carers and officers attending the event were able to meet Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, as well as talk to him about issues which uniquely affect kinship carers.

One of our kinship foster carers, Chris, said:

If it’s just one family, or a hundred families, it’s going to make a lot of difference to maybe help keep people in their own homes or keep those children with their families. 

This programme could help so many people not only change their lives but also change children’s lives.”

One of our kinship foster carers Harriet, said of the launch:

I explained our experiences. It was nerve-wracking but I think it was positive. It is good to get the recognition out there for kinship carers.”

Other local authorities taking part include Bolton, Newcastle, North East Lincolnshire, Thurrock, Medway and Wiltshire.

£126 million of support has been pledged towards up to 4,500 vulnerable children and their families.

The seven local authority areas were chosen following a selection process last June.

The children’s care organisation Foundations, working in partnership with consultancy Alma Economics, will track outcomes for carers and children throughout the pilot to inform future decisions.