Wednesday 29 June 2011

New Report on Children Living in Kinship Care in the UK

A major study 'Spotlight on Kinship Care' (16 June 2011), has been published by Dr Shailen Nandy and Dr Julie Selwyn, and the children's charity Buttle UK. It reveals for the first time the number of children being brought up by a relative instead of their mother or father. The study was funded by the BIG Lottery.

Dr Julie Selwyn, said, "This study shows the level of poverty and disadvantage in kinship families. This information will provide a much better basis for planning policy and services than anything previously. If the government is going to meet its targets to reduce child poverty, children in kinship care need to be recognised as a group with specific and considerable needs."

Sir Mark Potter, former Head of Family Justice and Chair of the Research Steering Group said, "This is a very important piece of groundbreaking research. It identities and provides basic and essential information in relation to a large group of children of whom far too little is known within the field of child care and who generally do not receive the support which they need and deserve. I hope it will provide much needed impetus for action to improve their circumstances and their chances in adult life."

The executive summary of the report may be read here: Executive Summary
The full version of the report may be read here: Full Report

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