Yesterday, I participated in the debate in Westminster Hall to stand up for kinship carers and the children they support. The government’s growing focus on kinship care is a positive step, but much more needs to be done – and quickly – to ensure these families receive the comprehensive support they deserve.

While the commitment in the 2024 Autumn Budget that the government will invest £44 million to support kinship and foster carers in England, including a trial of a kinship allowance in up to 10 local authorities is a very welcome start, I encouraged the government to take bolder steps by introducing a mandatory, non-means tested allowance for all kinship carers.

The impacts of poor financial support are huge. Kinship Charity’s 2024 annual survey found they were more than twice as likely as other adults to be using food banks, and more than 1 in 8 were concerned about their ability to continue caring for their kinship children in the next year if their situations didn’t improve.

The challenges facing kinship families are urgent. Without further support, many kinship children risk entering the care system, putting even more pressure on an already overstretched care system and losing the family connection they have in kinship care. I am committed to ensuring that kinship carers and children receive the recognition and resources they need, and I’ll keep fighting for these vital changes.