Labour leaders in Peterborough have called on the government to prioritise the city for funding to support kinship carers, following last week’s announcement of government funding for a new trial.
In a letter to Children’s Minister Janet Daby MP, members of Peterborough City Council Cabinet – alongside local MPs – urged the Department for Education to include Peterborough in the newly announced kinship allowance trial.
Kinship carers are people who raise children that are not their biological parent, but instead another relative or close family friend.
Sam Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, says Peterborough faces unique challenges as one of the UK’s fastest-growing communities, with many children in care.
“Local leaders believe many of these children could thrive within their extended families if kinship carers receive the necessary support, which would also reduce pressures on the foster care system,” he says.
“The additional funding, if Peterborough is made part of the trial, would enable more children to remain within their family networks, helping the council to provide stability and community support for vulnerable children.”
MP backs kinship funding
In a recent speech welcoming the government’s Budget (30/10), Mr Carling expressed his support for the new kinship funding.
He said: “Kinship carers are family or friends who step in to help support a child when their parents cannot, and they do a tremendous and critical job that too often goes unnoticed.
“I am pleased to see the Labour Government recognising their contribution, and the greater role that kinship carers can play in our society with the right level of support.”
Sam Carling MP (North West Cambridgeshire) with Cllr Katy Cole (Peterborough City Council) and Josh MacAlister MP at a recent event celebrating Kinship carers in ParliamentMr Carling said Peterborough City Council Children’s Services department has made significant progress recently, with positive feedback from Ofsted and Department for Education reviews.
“Council leaders see this as an opportunity to build on these achievements and make Peterborough a ‘Child-Friendly City.
“In doing so, they aim to support more children in kinship care arrangements, reducing the demand for formal care placements and providing children with the security and familiarity of their family environment.”
Kinship care charity supports Budget announcement
The MP added: “The Kinship care charity also welcomed the Budget announcement, acknowledging it as a critical milestone in recognising the contributions of kinship carers across the country.
“The charity reiterated its commitment to pushing for financial, practical, and emotional support for kinship carers, stating, ‘We urge the Department for Education to work at pace to confirm plans for the kinship allowance trial so that kinship carers across England can understand how it might impact them.’”
Mr Carling said Peterborough’s Labour leaders are ready to work closely with the Department for Education to turn this funding into meaningful support for kinship carers.
Sam Carling (20) Election count underway in Cambridgeshire , Kingsgate Centre, Peterborough Thursday 04 July 2024.Picture by Terry Harris.
“They are confident that prioritising Peterborough for this funding would drive positive, long-term change for children and families in the region,” he said.
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Signatories to the letter include Andrew Pakes (MP, Peterborough); Sam Carling (MP, North West Cambridgeshire); Cllr Dennis Jones (Leader, Peterborough City Council); Cllr Mohammed Jamil (Deputy Leader, Peterborough City Council & Cabinet Member, Governance and Finance); Cllr Katy Cole (Cabinet Member, Children’s Services & Education); Cllr Alison Jones (Cabinet Member, Housing & Communities); Cllr Angus Ellis (Cabinet Member, Growth & Innovation); Cllr Dr Shabina Asad Qayyum (Cabinet Member, Adults & Health).
Sam’s full speech can be found here.
Kinship’s statement can be found here.
