What is kinship care?

Kinship care is when children live with relatives or close family friends when their parents are unable to care for them. They often do it out of love and commitment, not because they planned to become carers.

When we talk about kinship care or kinship carers, we mean:

  • relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, cousins
  • family friends or people who already have a close, trusted relationship with the child

For more information, you can contact the Kinship team

Contact the Bexley Kinship Team

Why kinship matters?

Kinship care helps children:

  • stay connected to their family, culture, and community
  • maintain relationships that feel familiar and safe
  • experience a warm stable home where they belong to people who love and support them

Kinship Zones national pilot

The Kinship Zones national pilot is an important new project that will change how the UK supports kinship carers who step in to look after children when parents can’t.

Find out more abut the pilot