Coventry City Council is pledging its support for Kinship Care Week (5–11 October), a national campaign celebrating the unsung relatives and family friends who step forward to raise children when their parents cannot.
Across the country, more than 141,000 children are growing up in kinship families. In Coventry, kinship carers play a vital role in helping children stay connected to their roots, their communities and people who matter most to them.
Cllr Mal Mutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:
Kinship carers across the city are making an extraordinary difference.
They support children at some of the most difficult moments in their lives and provide the stability and reassurance they deserve.
Their dedication helps children stay connected to their families, their identity, and their home, making a lasting difference.
Kinship Care Week is an important reminder of the value of these families, and I want to thank every kinship carer in Coventry for the remarkable contribution they make.
Kinship carers take on their role in many different circumstances, sometimes through formal arrangements – such as Special Guardianship Orders or kinship foster care – and sometimes informally without a legal order.”
Where children are unable to remain with parents, Coventry City Council always seeks to place them with family or friends where it is safe and appropriate to do so. When this isn't possible, foster carers play a vital role in providing children with a stable, loving home close to their communities, schools and support networks.
Cllr Mal Mutton added:
What they all share is a commitment to providing children with a sense of belonging, and the chance to thrive within their wider family network.
Sukriti Sen, Director of Children and Education Services, said:
Kinship Care Week is a special opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to the relatives and family friends across Coventry who step forward to care for children when they need them most.
Kinship carers provide far more than a home. They offer children love, stability, belonging and a continuing connection to their family, culture and community. Many make this life-changing commitment unexpectedly and with little time to prepare, yet their dedication transforms children’s lives.
I want every kinship carer in Coventry to know that we see and value the difference you make.
This week is also an opportunity to raise awareness of kinship care in Coventry and highlight the importance of ensuring families know where help is available locally.
Sukriti added:
We also recognise the challenges that can accompany the responsibility of caring for a child, and we remain committed to listening to kinship families and working with them to improve the advice, support, and services available.
To learn more about kinship care and the help offered in Coventry, visit coventry.gov.uk/childrenandfamilies.
