January 29 2026
We are pleased to announce that we are launching two new research projects focusing on the experiences of minoritised ethnic children and young people in kinship care.
Our previous research, conducted to inform the Kinship Care Practice Guide, has shone a light on how structural inequalities and racism shape the experiences of kinship carers from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, as well as the challenges they face in accessing essential support.
However, this also highlighted the lack of evidence capturing the perspectives of minoritised ethnic children and young people in kinship care.
To close this gap, we are funding two new projects to explore these children’s experiences and needs – especially their views about identity, belonging, cultural continuity, and trust in kinship services.
These studies will provide insights into the lived experience of children and young people in kinship care; their needs and challenges; and what helps or hinders their access to support.
About the projects
To find out more about the experiences of mixed heritage children in kinship care, we are funding CASCADE, in partnership with Families in Harmony, to conduct a qualitative project, focusing on the experiences of children who are Black African/Caribbean, Asian, and children with carers who do not share their ethnicity.
It will also look at mixed heritage children with only one Black African/Caribbean/Asian parent regardless of the ethnicity of their kinship family.
We are also funding the University of Lancashire, in partnership with the University of Worcester and Swansea University, to conduct a qualitative study on the experiences of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children and young people who are, or have been, raised in kinship care arrangements. This project will create a space in which children can tell us about their experiences of kinship care in the ways that they want to.
The team [1] will collaborate with community-led GRT organisations and six local authorities to co-produce all stages of the research. The data generated with children and young people in this study will offer an evidence base to inform on-going service development and address racial inequality in future services and reforms.
Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive of Foundations, said: “Right now, there is a significant lack of evidence centred around minoritised ethnic children and young people in kinship care. These projects will speak to that evidence gap, with a focus on children’s experiences and needs and their trust in kinship services. We know that the carers of these children can have negative experiences of the system, and it is only through collecting qualitative evidence that we can hope to create more culturally responsive, grounded, effective support for all.”
Jahnine Davis, National Kinship Care Ambassador, said: “Listening to and understanding the experiences of children in kinship care is a core commitment of my role as National Kinship Care Ambassador. These research projects will strengthen our understanding of kinship children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and mixed heritage backgrounds, whose perspectives are not always fully reflected in existing evidence. The projects create space for children in kinship care to share what matters most to them, offering clear insight into identity, family, belonging and daily life in kinship families. The findings will support local areas to consider what they already know about kinship children’s experiences, where there may be gaps or silences, and how best this can inform their work. By centring the experiences of lesser heard kinship children, this research will contribute to a more coherent and child focused approach across policy and practice.”
Notes
- The academic team consists of Professor Alastair Roy, Professor Cath Larkins and Dr Deborah Crook (University of Lancashire), Dr Peter Unwin (University of Worcester), and Allison Hulmes (Swansea University).
For more information read our Deputy Chief Executive Donna Molloy OBE’s blog: Advancing the evidence base on support for kinship families – Foundations