Wiltshire to be part of major new Government pilot to support kinship carers
New scheme aims to provide financial support to those caring for vulnerable children
Wiltshire is set to participate in a new Government pilot aimed at supporting kinship carers who look after vulnerable children.
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends stepping in as kinship carers will be eligible for payment under this scheme.
The Department for Education has announced that this pilot will represent the largest national investment in kinship care, offering new financial allowances over the next three and a half years.
Seven areas across England will take part, designated as Kinship Zones, including Wiltshire in the South West, Bexley in Greater London, Bolton in the North West, Newcastle in the North East, North East Lincolnshire in the East Midlands, Medway in the South East, and Thurrock in the East of England.
An estimated 5,000 vulnerable children and their families stand to benefit from the scheme, with £126 million allocated to the initiative.
However, the national charity Kinship has pointed out that the pilot will only address a small portion of England’s children in kinship care and highlighted the need for broader efforts.
Josh MacAlister, Minister for Children and Families, said: "As a country, we owe kinship carers our thanks and our support, and the new financial allowance which we're trialling as part of our plan for change recognises the vital role they play ensuring families can stay together."
Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive of the government-funded Foundations, expressed support for the project’s evaluation, believing it could shape the future of support for kinship carers and the children they care for.
While the pilot is a milestone, Kinship’s chief executive Lucy Peake expressed concerns about the slow pace, with only around 4% of children in kinship care included in the pilot.
Enthusiastic support for kinship carers has also been voiced by Liberal Democrats spokesperson Munira Wilson, who acknowledged the initiative as a necessary step but insisted that more efforts are needed to assist kinship families.
The charity Kinship added that well-supported kinship care could lead to significant financial savings for the state and improve children's lifetime earnings.