Kinship Care Week (5-11 October 2026) celebrates the relatives and friends who step in to raise children when their parents cannot.
More than 141,000 children across England and Wales are growing up in kinship care, supported by grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and family friends who provide love, stability and a sense of belonging. Many take on this responsibility with little notice, whether through formal legal arrangements or informal family care.
This week, we celebrate the unbreakable bonds at the heart of kinship families and raise awareness of the challenges and realities faced by those caring for children who have experienced difficult starts in life.
Let’s ensure kinship families are seen, heard and understood.