Stepping up for those who step up for a child in crisis.
Munira has introduced the Kinship Care Bill in Parliament.
The term “kinship care” isn’t one most people hear every day, but it describes an arrangement many families come to when a child’s parents can no longer look after them.
Kinship carers are friends and family members – be that grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings or family friends – who step up for a child in crisis and provide them with a loving home, keeping them out of the care system.
These friends and relatives make huge personal sacrifices, often taking on vulnerable children at very short notice and with little time to prepare emotionally or financially. But they are all too often overlooked. Compared to foster carers and adoptive parents, many kinship carers get little government support.
Munira’s Bill aims to change that with four key proposals. Watch Munira lay these out when introducing the Bill in Parliament here.
How to get involved
Please spread the word using the #StepUpForKinshipCarers and by e-mailing your MP asking them to support the Bill. A template letter can be found here.
Westminster Hall debate
On 18 October, Munira secured and held a debate in Westminster Hall on support for kinship carers.
Opening the debate, Munira said: “I am grateful to have this opportunity to acknowledge and champion the thousands of grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and family friends who step up to support a child in crisis.
This feels like a pivotal moment to recognise and unlock the role that family and friends can play in raising children who would otherwise be brought up in care.”
In response, the Minister for Schools and Childhood, Kelly Tolhurst MP, said: “Supporting kinship care is a route to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to grow up in a loving, safe and stable environment and to maximise their potential. I welcome the opportunity to set out what we are doing as a Government to make that vision a reality.”
Following a successful debate, Munira now looks forward to working constructively with MPs and Ministers to deliver change. Watch a clip of her closing remarks here.
Cross-party support
Crucially, the Kinship Care Bill also secured cross-party support from the main three parties in England. Alongside Munira, the Bill has nine co-sponsors, including the Chair of the Education Select Committee and a former Minister and Shadow Minister for Children and Families.
Organisations representing kinship carers, including Kinship and the Family Rights Group, also back the Bill.
Latest news
- Munira first raised the need to improve support for kinship carers with the now former Minister for Children and Families, Will Quince, in May. Watch their exchange here.
- In June, Munira met cross-party colleagues and kinship carers at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care, where she spoke about her Bill.
- The Kinship Care Bill was covered in the i newspaper in July. Munira also spoke about her Bill on GB News.
- The Kinship Care Bill was formally introduced in Parliament on 5 July. Read the transcript of Munira’s speech here.
- On 18 October, Munira held a Westminster Hall debate on kinship care in Parliament.
- On 20 October, the Kinship Care Bill was featured on ITV’s Tonight programme. Watch a clip below, or the full episode here.