Kinship Carer Week runs until 11 October — what it means locally

Kinship Carer Week (5–11 October 2026) is under way across England and Wales, and Richmond Council is using it to shine a light on the relatives and friends in the borough who have stepped in to raise children when their parents are unable to do so.

Kinship carers — grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings and close family friends — often take on that role at very short notice and with limited preparation. According to Kinship, the leading charity for kinship families in England and Wales, more than 141,000 children across the two nations are currently growing up in kinship care rather than the formal care system.

Some carers hold a legal arrangement such as a Special Guardianship Order; others support children informally, without any court order. Both groups face distinct challenges, from financial pressures to navigating school and health services without always having the same legal standing as an adoptive or birth parent.

This year's theme focuses on the bonds at the heart of kinship families and the community networks they build to support one another. Richmond Council is marking the week by highlighting the realities these families face alongside the stability and belonging kinship care provides to children.

Residents who are kinship carers or who know someone in that situation can find information and support resources on the Richmond Council Kinship Carer Week page.