Kinship

Photo: Kinship carer Meyrem and her children

Thanks to the generosity of BBC Radio 4 listeners, our recent appeal raised £12,180.57 in support of kinship families across England and Wales. Every donation is an act of kindness towards the grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and family friends who step up to raise children when their parents cannot.

Listener’s support will make a significant difference to Kinship’s advice services, which thousands of kinship carers rely on each year for specialist, practical guidance.

In 2025, our advisers supported more than 2,200 kinship carers across England and Wales. Kinship carers often face complex challenges while providing stability and love for the children in their care. They come to us for expert advice on a range of issues. We help them understand their rights when taking on the care of a child, enabling informed decisions around Special Guardianship Orders and other legal arrangements. We help them ensure they receive any financial help they are entitled to from local authorities and guide them through the benefits system to secure essential financial stability. We support them to understand the rights of children with special educational needs and disabilities so they can secure appropriate support for them in school.

But our capacity cannot meet the demand, and we often have waiting lists. Thanks to donors like you, we have been able to train three new Advisers who will enable us to reach many more kinship carers in 2026, offering clear and compassionate advice on the issues that matter most to families.

Your generosity ensures that every kinship carer who reaches out to us receives expert support when they need it most. Each donation helps a family feel less alone and more confident in the vital role they play.

Thank you for supporting kinship carers and helping children grow up in loving, stable homes.

To learn more about Kinship click here