We are asking these questions… to understand more about the kinship carers and kinship families that are represented in our survey cohort. We want to ensure we’re reaching as representative and diverse a group of kinship carers as possible, and these questions help us find out how well we’re doing this and where we need to improve.

These questions also allow us to analyse survey responses based on age, ethnicity and other personal characteristics – this helps us to identify groups of kinship carers who might be facing particular challenges and target new services and policies to help support them. For example, based on findings from previous surveys, we established a specific online peer support group for kinship carers caring on their own. 

We are asking these questions… to understand more about the circumstances and structure of your kinship family. As with the previous section, this enables us to delve further into how experiences of support differ between families with different types of kinship arrangements and backgrounds.

We are asking these questions… to understand more about the circumstances and experiences of kinship families when kinship care begins. Many kinship carers tell us they feel they didn’t get the information or support they – or their children – needed at this crucial time, especially where kinship care emerges following a family crisis.   

We are asking these questions…because we know that better support for kinship children’s mental health and family relationships is a key priority which kinship carers want us to campaign on. The UK government is exploring how it can better support kinship children’s mental health and wellbeing, and these responses will help us promote a system which recognises kinship families’ unique needs, strengths and experiences.

We are asking these questions…  because we know that many kinship carers don't get the financial support they need and deserve having taken on the care of a child or children unexpectedly. This is one of the key areas you have told us you want to see us continue to campaign on, targeting both national governments and local authorities. This information helps us to make the case for continued investment in improving financial support for kinship families given the evidence of the positive impact this has for children as well as the public purse.

We are asking these questions…  to understand more about how kinship families are receiving ongoing support from the local authority and elsewhere, and to push local authorities to improve the advice, information and support they provide to kinship carers. This will also help us identify areas of good as well as poor practice across the country, and track how things change year-to-year.

We appreciate some of the questions below might feel uncomfortable to think about, but it is vital we present an honest picture about the urgent and significant needs of many kinship families in order to convince decision makers in local authorities and government to change things. Remember – you don’t have to answer any questions you’d prefer not to, and we’re here at Kinship to support you and your family at any point

We are asking these questions…  to understand your experiences with accessing advice and support about kinship care and getting involved with Kinship’s work. If you’d like to, you can leave you contact details and we can get in touch about relevant opportunities.