Foundations – What Works for Children & Families is establishing a Kinship Care Advisory Group. We are seeking individuals who can bring lived experience, professional insight, and research expertise to help ensure that our work on kinship care is shaped by those who understand it best. The group, Chaired by Dr Lorna Stabler will help inform how our work is planned and delivered, while providing constructive challenge and supporting reflection on our approach, ultimately strengthening the quality and impact of our work for kinship families. 

What are we currently doing in this area? 

Foundations is working to improve support for children and families in kinship care across England by building and sharing clear evidence about what works. This includes developing the national Kinship Care Practice Guide to help local leaders improve support for kinship families, and funding and evaluating new approaches such as kinship navigator programmes, therapeutic support, and financial allowance pilots. We are also launching new research to better understand the experiences of children and young people in kinship care, including work focused on minoritised ethnic families. Alongside this, we work with local authorities and delivery partners to test and improve services so that policy and practice are shaped by both strong evidence and real-life experience. 

Examples of our work include: 

• Building the evidence to support kinship carers and the children they care for
• New Kinship Care Practice Guide Set to Transform Support for Kinship Families
• Advancing the evidence base on support for kinship families
• What interventions improve outcomes for kinship carers and children in their care

What will the role involve? 

As a member of the Advisory Group, you will be invited to contribute to specific areas of work where your experience is most relevant. This may include: 

• Reviewing draft reports, guidance, or communications before publication. 
• Advising on research priorities. 
• Contributing to the early development of projects or funding calls 
• Providing insight to research partners and supporting organisations who may be delivering kinship programmes. 
• Participating in focused discussions, workshops, or short consultations. 
• Sharing examples of effective practice and/or highlighting emerging issues affecting kinship families. 

Members will always receive clear information about the purpose of each activity, how their input will be used, and the expected time commitment. 

Who are we looking for? 

We want to build a balanced group reflecting a range of perspectives. We would like to hear from if you fall in one or more of the following categories: 

• Someone with lived experience of kinship care i.e a current or former kinship carer, an adult who grew up in kinship care or a relative supporting a kinship arrangement. 
• A practitioner or professional, such as: social workers, family support or early help practitioners, local authority or voluntary sector staff working with children and families 
• An academic or researcher, including researchers in children’s social care, social work, family policy, or related fields, evaluation, data, or evidence specialists 

Previous advisory group experience is not required — we value practical knowledge, openness, and willingness to share perspectives.