Wiltshire Council launches Kinship Allowance pilot for family carers
New programme seeks to support kinship carers with financial aid
Wiltshire Council is reaching out to kinship carers across the county to encourage them to explore the benefits of a new national Kinship Allowance pilot aimed at providing additional financial support.
Wiltshire, the only authority in the south west, is among seven local authorities selected to partake in the Department for Education's Kinship Zones programme.
The purpose of the pilot is to assess the effect of offering regular allowances to eligible kinship carers, facilitating children's continued care within their extended family network.
Wiltshire Council is undertaking targeted outreach efforts to contact carers who may not be aware of this initiative, including those with private Special Guardianship Orders and informal kinship carers not engaged with children's social services.
Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Wiltshire Council, praised the initiative, saying: "Kinship carers play an extraordinary role in providing safe, loving homes for children who cannot live with their parents. Many take on this responsibility suddenly and without the same support that foster carers receive."
He continued, "We are proud that Wiltshire has been chosen to take part in this national pilot. It's a chance to make a real difference for families and to learn what works so that support can be strengthened across the country."
Hubbard encouraged those caring for children within their family or friendship network, formally or informally, to step forward and see if this new allowance could assist them.
Details about the Kinship Allowance pilot, including eligibility criteria, can be found at Kinship Allowance Pilot.