Kinship Care Week is taking place from 6 to 12 October and is a national celebration of the incredible families who step in to care for children when their parents cannot. Across England and Wales there are more than 141,000 children growing up with kinship carers who are grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, or close family friends. These amazing Kinship Carers provide a safe, loving and stable home for vulnerable children in our community.
In Nottingham, many children are cared for by relatives or friends under what is known as “looking after someone else’s child.” Sometimes this happens through informal arrangements, while in other cases the local authority helps family members or close friends to become approved foster carers. Other options include Child Arrangements Orders, Special Guardianship Orders, or private fostering, where the council is notified to make sure children remain safe and supported.
Kinship carers often describe the experience as deeply rewarding, even though it can bring challenges. One carer explained:
“Being a Kinship Carer means my grandchildren get to stay in a happy secure family environment where they can be themselves and have strong family bonds. Being a family gives stronger roots for children to grow.”
Another shared:
“Being a kinship carer is so rewarding, being able to be a part of helping bring up these children and help them grow into the person they will become is amazing to see.”
A third added:
“Being a kinship carer is the most rewarding thing I have ever done! It can be challenging at times navigating through life to make the best decisions for the child, but seeing them living their best life, happy and worry free gives you the reassurance you’re doing a good job.”
This Kinship Care Week, Nottinghan invites everyone to raise a teacup in recognition of kinship families everywhere. It is a small but powerful way to say thank you to those who go above and beyond to provide children with love, safety and the strong family roots they deserve.