Kinship care re-visited: Using Census 2011 Microdata to Examine and Map the Extent and Nature of Kinship Care Households in the UK
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Sch for Policy Studies
Abstract
The research project will use microdata from the 2011 Census to provide nationally representative, reliable statistics and maps on the distribution and characteristics of kinship care households in the four countries of the UK. It will also work directly with various stakeholders to map a way forward in addressing the needs of these kinship families.
The most recent estimates of kinship care through analyses of the 2001 Census here at the Hadley Centre found that around 1 in 77 children in the UK were living with relatives or friends, otherwise known as kinship care. Although perceived as better than non- relative foster care, many children in kinship care experience mental health and behavioural difficulties due to previous experiences of maltreatment; most live in poverty and deprivation; and carers, who are mainly grandparents, are also more likely to suffer from physical and mental health concerns. Support and services from local authorities is most likely when the kinship carers are registered as foster carers, although in the most recent estimates, this constituted only around 5% of the 173,200 children living with relatives in the UK. All four UK Governments have acknowledged the need to support all kinship families. However, service provision remains very patchy and concerns have been raised about the extent of the needs of kinship families that are not being met through Government interventions.
The effects of social and demographic changes in the UK such as the economic downturn and patterns of migration, may all have contributed to a changed distribution of kinship care to that seen with the 2001 Census. Furthermore, one of the main findings of the previous Census analyses was that the characteristics of kinship carers, for example the carer type (grandparent/sibling) and ethnicity, varied between and within the four UK countries, although these differences were not explored in great detail. Therefore, this research will conduct more in-depth analyses of the 2011 Census microdata to explore these differences between and within the four UK countries and also compare children growing in kinship care to those living with at least one parent.
This in-depth view of kinship care in the UK will be useful to policy makers, practitioners, academics, third sector organisations lobbying for and supporting kinship families, as well as organisations campaigning against child poverty (Family Rights Group, Grandparents' Association, Grandparents Plus, Barnardo's, Office of the Children's Commissioner, Save the Children and UNICEF). All outputs from the study will be made available freely through the project website and other social media platforms.
Through the establishment of a stakeholder advisory group at the outset of the study, and through interviews and a survey, the research will work directly with a variety of key stakeholders (kinship families, academics, policy makers, practitioners and third sector organisations) to discuss the key economic, social and policy challenges of kinship care in the UK and map a way forward. A special effort will be made to reach the general public through media and social network platforms. This would especially be useful in getting the message across to kinship families who are not in receipt of any services from local authorities to inform them of the findings of this study and provide details on whom they could contact for further information and support.
The most recent estimates of kinship care through analyses of the 2001 Census here at the Hadley Centre found that around 1 in 77 children in the UK were living with relatives or friends, otherwise known as kinship care. Although perceived as better than non- relative foster care, many children in kinship care experience mental health and behavioural difficulties due to previous experiences of maltreatment; most live in poverty and deprivation; and carers, who are mainly grandparents, are also more likely to suffer from physical and mental health concerns. Support and services from local authorities is most likely when the kinship carers are registered as foster carers, although in the most recent estimates, this constituted only around 5% of the 173,200 children living with relatives in the UK. All four UK Governments have acknowledged the need to support all kinship families. However, service provision remains very patchy and concerns have been raised about the extent of the needs of kinship families that are not being met through Government interventions.
The effects of social and demographic changes in the UK such as the economic downturn and patterns of migration, may all have contributed to a changed distribution of kinship care to that seen with the 2001 Census. Furthermore, one of the main findings of the previous Census analyses was that the characteristics of kinship carers, for example the carer type (grandparent/sibling) and ethnicity, varied between and within the four UK countries, although these differences were not explored in great detail. Therefore, this research will conduct more in-depth analyses of the 2011 Census microdata to explore these differences between and within the four UK countries and also compare children growing in kinship care to those living with at least one parent.
This in-depth view of kinship care in the UK will be useful to policy makers, practitioners, academics, third sector organisations lobbying for and supporting kinship families, as well as organisations campaigning against child poverty (Family Rights Group, Grandparents' Association, Grandparents Plus, Barnardo's, Office of the Children's Commissioner, Save the Children and UNICEF). All outputs from the study will be made available freely through the project website and other social media platforms.
Through the establishment of a stakeholder advisory group at the outset of the study, and through interviews and a survey, the research will work directly with a variety of key stakeholders (kinship families, academics, policy makers, practitioners and third sector organisations) to discuss the key economic, social and policy challenges of kinship care in the UK and map a way forward. A special effort will be made to reach the general public through media and social network platforms. This would especially be useful in getting the message across to kinship families who are not in receipt of any services from local authorities to inform them of the findings of this study and provide details on whom they could contact for further information and support.
Planned Impact
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESEARCH AND HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT?
The research will generate new academic, political and public awareness and understanding of the extent and prevalence of kinship care households in the UK, including the proportion of kinship carers not known to local authorities. This new evidence base has the potential to impact on policies regarding kinship care at local, regional and central governmental levels in the four UK countries. The disaggregated analyses down to local authority level will provide a scientific evidence base for local authorities and policy makers to better target these vulnerable families facilitating policy formation, implementation and effective resource allocation. Given that the analyses of the 2001 Census found that 95% of the kinship families are unknown to the local authorities, this research also aims to raise the profile of this hidden population of kinship families and harness political will to change policy and practice regarding how the needs these families are assessed and addressed. The research output will also be beneficial to practitioners working within Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), educational services, CAMHS and the NHS in terms of signposting a population who may be in need of their support. As all UK Governments have pledged to eradicate child poverty by 2020, the results pertaining to the poverty and deprivation faced by kinship families will be of significant use to policy makers working within Governments to facilitate this goal. It is hoped that through impacting these policy and practice developments, the project in the longer term will lead to better health and wellbeing of children and carers living in kinship care arrangements.
The evidence will also be of interest to stakeholders such as third sector organisations and those campaigning for children's right and against child poverty (for example, Family Rights Group, Grandparents' Association, Grandparents Plus, Barnardo's, Child Poverty Action Group Office of the Children's Commissioner, Save the Children and UNICEF).
The research will also act as a conduit to collaborative work and debates between various stakeholders (including kin carers, policymakers at various levels, third sector organisations, academics, private sector and practitioners) by engaging with the stakeholders from the outset of the project and facilitating a dialogue through the advisory group and stakeholder interviews, which innovatively uses the Delphi method to feed back the results to stakeholders before reaching consensus.
In order to facilitate these outcomes, the dissemination of output to these beneficiaries will be carried out during and after the project life cycle through several activities. The dissemination of the project results through the website, multiple social media and other direct media platforms will enhance the public understanding of kinship care and also reach out to those kinship families, who may be in need of support, encouraging them to contact the relevant authorities.
Two separate conferences will be organised at the end of the research project to disseminate the findings to the key stakeholders and academics. The stakeholder conference, which will be organised in partnership and hosted by a stakeholder, will focus more on the policy and practice implications. The research will also be presented at other practitioner workshops as well as academic conferences.
The well established research, policy and practice links of the Hadley Centre and the networks of the stakeholders will be utilised to convey the messages from the research to a wide local and international policy, practice and academic audience.
The research will generate new academic, political and public awareness and understanding of the extent and prevalence of kinship care households in the UK, including the proportion of kinship carers not known to local authorities. This new evidence base has the potential to impact on policies regarding kinship care at local, regional and central governmental levels in the four UK countries. The disaggregated analyses down to local authority level will provide a scientific evidence base for local authorities and policy makers to better target these vulnerable families facilitating policy formation, implementation and effective resource allocation. Given that the analyses of the 2001 Census found that 95% of the kinship families are unknown to the local authorities, this research also aims to raise the profile of this hidden population of kinship families and harness political will to change policy and practice regarding how the needs these families are assessed and addressed. The research output will also be beneficial to practitioners working within Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), educational services, CAMHS and the NHS in terms of signposting a population who may be in need of their support. As all UK Governments have pledged to eradicate child poverty by 2020, the results pertaining to the poverty and deprivation faced by kinship families will be of significant use to policy makers working within Governments to facilitate this goal. It is hoped that through impacting these policy and practice developments, the project in the longer term will lead to better health and wellbeing of children and carers living in kinship care arrangements.
The evidence will also be of interest to stakeholders such as third sector organisations and those campaigning for children's right and against child poverty (for example, Family Rights Group, Grandparents' Association, Grandparents Plus, Barnardo's, Child Poverty Action Group Office of the Children's Commissioner, Save the Children and UNICEF).
The research will also act as a conduit to collaborative work and debates between various stakeholders (including kin carers, policymakers at various levels, third sector organisations, academics, private sector and practitioners) by engaging with the stakeholders from the outset of the project and facilitating a dialogue through the advisory group and stakeholder interviews, which innovatively uses the Delphi method to feed back the results to stakeholders before reaching consensus.
In order to facilitate these outcomes, the dissemination of output to these beneficiaries will be carried out during and after the project life cycle through several activities. The dissemination of the project results through the website, multiple social media and other direct media platforms will enhance the public understanding of kinship care and also reach out to those kinship families, who may be in need of support, encouraging them to contact the relevant authorities.
Two separate conferences will be organised at the end of the research project to disseminate the findings to the key stakeholders and academics. The stakeholder conference, which will be organised in partnership and hosted by a stakeholder, will focus more on the policy and practice implications. The research will also be presented at other practitioner workshops as well as academic conferences.
The well established research, policy and practice links of the Hadley Centre and the networks of the stakeholders will be utilised to convey the messages from the research to a wide local and international policy, practice and academic audience.
Publications
Grandparents Plus
(2018)
Reimagining Kinship Care : Creative workshop insights and outputs
Wijedasa, D
(2017)
Children growing up in the care of relatives in the UK
Wijedasa, D
(2017)
Children growing up in the care of relatives in the UK
| Description | The family environment that children grow up in can greatly influence their outcomes in terms of development and wellbeing. Although most children in the UK still live with at least one parent, some are unable to live with their parents due to reasons such as neglect or abuse by parents, parental sickness or death, parents being in prison, family circumstances such as poverty, parental drug and alcohol abuse or mental health issues. A majority of these children live with relatives or friends, otherwise known as kinship care. Kinship placements can either be arranged formally through local authorities and courts, or informally between relatives and friends. In the absence of good parental care, kinship care is generally considered a better alternative to being fostered by unrelated foster carers as children are more likely to have better behavioural and mental health outcomes. There is no legal obligation placed on the families to inform authorities of kinship care arrangements. Therefore, most children and families are not known to the authorities and thus do not receive specific support from the State. Nor is there a statutory service provision available to address the impact of early adverse experiences on the health and wellbeing of these children. This study, through analyses of secure microdata from the 2011 Census, provides the most current estimates of the number and characteristics of the children growing up with relatives in the UK. The Census analyses revealed that: • In the UK, kinship care is the most frequently used substitute care arrangement for children who are unable to live with their parents. • In 2011, there were around 180,000 children growing up in the care of relatives in the UK. In other words, around one in every 70 children in the UK were growing up in the care of relatives. • Since 2001, the numbers of children growing up in the care of relatives in England and Wales had grown at rates higher than the child population of the countries. In contrast, the number of children living with kin in Scotland and Northern Ireland had decreased since 2001. • Compared with children living with at least one parent, children in kinship care were twice as likely to report disabilities and long-term health problems. • In all countries of the UK, the majority of relative-carers were grandparents. • When compared with parents, relative carers were more likely to report more health problems, have increased caring responsibilities and have a lower income. • Two in every three children in kinship care in England and 3 in every 5 children in kinship care in Wales were living in households located in the poorest 40% of the areas. • Around half of the children in kinship care in England and Wales were living in households deprived in at least two of the four indicators considered (Employment; Education; Housing; Health and Disability). In comparison, this was true for less than one in five children living with at least one parent. Detailed, country-level briefing papers can be found at www.bristolkishipstudy.co.uk. |
| Exploitation Route | The results from this study, which provides an in-depth view of kinship care in the UK, has the potential to impact on policies regarding kinship care at local, regional and central governmental levels in the four UK countries. The disaggregated analyses down to local authority level provides a scientific evidence base for local authorities and policy makers to better target vulnerable kinship families facilitating policy formation, implementation and effective resource allocation. The evidence will also be of interest to stakeholders such as third sector organisations and those campaigning for children's right and against child poverty. Over the last 20 or so years, academic research on kinship care in the UK has raised the profile of kinship care arrangements, whilst raising concerns about the lack of service provision for most kinship families. This study provides the most up to date, reliable and representative statistics on kinship care in the UK, which can be a baseline for future research studies on kinship care. The disaggregated prevalence rates, down to local authority level provide accurate sampling frames for future research, and inform sampling methodology and costing. All outputs from the study are available freely through the project website: www.bristolkinshipstudy.co.uk |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice |
| URL | http://www.bristolkinshipstudy.co.uk |
| Description | This research has directly impacted kinship care policy and practice. In terms of policies and law, there is no legal obligation placed upon the families to notify authorities of kinship care arrangements. Furthermore, local authorities do not have a legal obligation to support kinship families unless the children are currently or previously looked after by the state. Therefore, despite kinship care being the most used substitute care placement for children unable to live with their parents, no national records exist on the population of children growing up in the care of kin in the UK. This study filled this gap in knowledge by providing the most up-to-date numbers and the characteristics of children growing up in kinship care in the four UK countries, established through analyses of secure Census microdata. This study has influenced the most recent changes to policy and law impacting kinship families. The evidence from this research, that around 153,000 children were living with kinship carers in England, was used extensively by the Family Rights Group and the Kinship Care Alliance to lobby peers and Lords, requesting exceptions for kinship households in sections 13 and 14 in the Welfare Reform & Work Bill, which limited the child tax credit and universal credit to a maximum of two children in each household. This led to the Government issuing exemptions for kinship care households in the Welfare Reform & Work Act 2016. The disaggregated numbers and prevalence rates of kinship care at local authority level have been used by charities such as Buttle UK to allocate funding towards the most required areas in the country. The influence on policy (Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016) and the use of data from the study for resource allocation by charities impact kinship families directly and positively. The output from the study was also used as evidence in the Care Crisis Review (2018). The data from this research was used to make a case to provide support for kinship families in terms of allowances and kinship leave, in giving oral evidence at the first session of the Education Select Committee Inquiry into Children Social Care in England (2023) |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Academic Adviser to National Care Crisis Review |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://frg.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/the-care-crisis-review/ |
| Description | Cited in the National Strategy for Children's Social Care Reform 2023: Stable Homes Built with Love |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | The research (Wijedasa, 2015) on the prevalence and characteristics of children growing up in kinship care in the England was cited in the the children's social care reform implementation document (Stable Homes Built on Love), to indicate that '40% of all children living in kinship care arrangements in England live in households located in the 20% most income-deprived areas' (P.124). Based partly on this evidence, the Government proposed to Publish a National Kinship Strategy (P.139), which was published in December 2023. The National Kinship Care Strategy has committed to delivering a 4-year pilot of financial allowances across up to 8 local authorities from 2024-28, with £16 million funding committed to for year one (2024-5). With this initiative, kinship carers, who had no access to an allowance, are given an allowance on par with fostering allowances, which benefits kinship families. A national roll out will be considered by the Government after the findings of from the uptake in the first 8 local authorities are published. |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642460653d885d000fdade73/Children_s_social_care_stabl... |
| Description | Education Select Committee: Evidence submitted by the Department for Education to the inquiry into Children's Homes in England |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/35748/pdf/ |
| Description | Evidence from the research used to amend Welfare Reform and Work Bill, leading to better outcomes for kinship families in the Welfare and Reform Act 2016 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Better access to welfare services for kinship families because as a result of the evidence from this research, the Welfare Reform and Work Bill exempted kinship families from the 2-child tax rule. (The Bill previously did not have this exception) |
| URL | https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2015-12-08/debates/15120854000262/VulnerableChildrenKinshipCare |
| Description | Figures from briefing paper 1 was quoted in Family Rights Group's briefings for parliamentarians including the Lords and in speeches that were written for peers who were championing exemptions for kinship care households from provisions in the Welfare Reform & Work Bill including the 2 child limit on child tax credit. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | I was invited to attend a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Parents and Families (APPG) on prisoners and the relationships with their families |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Invited to provide Oral Evidence to the Education Select Committee Inquiry into Children's Social Care |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/event/20796/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/ |
| Description | National Independent Review of Children's Social Care |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/independent-review-of-childrens-social-care |
| Description | Report of the Parliamentary Taskforce on Kinship Care |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://frg.org.uk/product/first-thought-not-afterthought-report-of-the-parliamentary-taskforce-on-k... |
| Description | Research evidence used by national charity to allocate funding to local areas |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | The disaggregated numbers and prevalence rates of kinship care at local authority level have been used by charities such as Buttle UK to allocate funding towards the most required areas in the country. This influence on practice impacted kinship families directly and positively. |
| Description | Research output cited in Department for Health and Social Care Policy Paper : The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-da... |
| Description | Research output used as evidence to House of Lords Children and Families Act 2014 Select Committee Inquiry by national charity, Kinship |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/108153/pdf/#page=4 |
| Description | Research output used as evidence to Work and Pensions Select Committee Inquiry by national charity, Family Rights Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/24081/pdf/ |
| Description | The Best Start for Life: A Vision for the 1,001 Critical Days, The Early Years Healthy Development Review Report |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9730... |
| Description | Longitudinal mental health trajectories of children growing up in State care in England: An exploration of patterns and influencing factors |
| Amount | £402,702 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/R006482/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | Using linked administrative data to explore mental health service provision for children in State care in England |
| Amount | £136,475 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | JUS/43510 |
| Organisation | Nuffield Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Grandparents Plus |
| Organisation | Grandparents Plus |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Organisation of 'Reimagining Kinship Care' Conference. Funds from the research project partly funded the event. The output from the research study was presented by Dinithi Wijedasa at this event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Organisation of 'Reimagining Kinship Care' Conference. |
| Impact | 'Reimagining Kinship Care' Conference, 30th November 2017 at Church House, Westminster, London. This event was attended by 150 delegates ( practitioners, policy makers and academics). A 'Way forward in kinship care' document was created at a workshop in the afternoon. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Jean Golding Institute |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Department | Jean Golding Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Organisation of a conference on Using Secondary Data in Research on the 07th of February 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contribution to the organisation of a conference on Using Secondary Data in Research on the 07th of February 2018. |
| Impact | 'Using Secondary Data in Research' Conference. Held on the 7th of February 2018 at Engineer's House, Clifton, Bristol. 75 academics and postgraduate researchers attended the event. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Engagement with stakeholders through the stakeholder advisory group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In order to facilitate better outcomes for children and families in kinship care situations, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this research, the results of the study need to be accessible and useful to a to a number of distinct audiences including; 1) Policy makers and service providers 2) Third sector organisations such as charities and organisations campaigning for children's right and against child and 3) the kinship families. Therefore, this project has continuous knowledge exchange and co-production of knowledge through direct engagement and collaboration a stakeholder advisory group, which was set up at the outset of the project. The group has representation from: Department for Business, innovation and skills Department for Education Family Rights Group Grandparents Plus Islington borough Child poverty action group, Scotland Office of the children's commissioner Solicitor CAFCASS Kinship Carer The Grandparents' Association Barnardo's Centre for Social Justice Buttle UK Capability Scotland Children's Rights Alliance for England The advisory group members provide continued guidance and advice on analyses that would be useful in a practice and policy context. Group members such as the Family Rights group and the Grandparents Plus used data published in the first briefing paper from this study to influence changes to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill. Organisations such as Buttle UK has indicated that they utilise the published statistics from this study to make decisions on funding and resource allocation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited presentation at the Census Research User Conference 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Census Research User Conference, organised by the UK Data Service Census Support team in collaboration with the Census Offices, was held on Thursday 22 June 2017 at the Royal Statistical Society in London.The conference provided users and data creators with an opportunity to meet and discuss developments in Census research. The day composed of presentations from the Office for National Statistics on future developments in data and from users who have used the data in their research. The conference was attended by about 100 delegates. The event programme can be found here: https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/eventsdocs/censusconference22jun17 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/eventsdocs/censusconference22jun17 |
| Description | Invited to a Parliamentary Reception to promote the release of the first briefing paper from the study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The results of the first briefing paper from the study, which published the main numbers and the characteristics of children growing up in the care of relatives, was released alongside a large survey of kinship carers conducted by the Family Rights Group (FRG). The Parliamentary Reception was organised by the FRG to highlight the impact of the Welfare Reform Bill on kinship families to peers, ministers and policy makers. The numbers published in the first briefing paper from this study was used to highlight the number of children in kinship care and also the poverty and deprivation faced by the kinship families. -At the Parliamentary reception, two Scottish MPs from SNP handed their cards to me and asked me if I could let them know when results for Scotland are available. - The FRG contacted me subsequently and stated that the briefing papers are very popular at training events that they conduct. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156130466120032.1073741828.462770955031&type=3 |
| Description | Invited to attend the All Party Parliamentary Group on Children and Families |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to attend a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Parents and Families (APPG) on prisoners and the relationships with their families on Tuesday 24 January 2017. This APPG is chaired by Angela Crawley MP, with co-chairs: Lord Northbourne and the Bishop of Durham. When parents, especially mothers are imprisoned, relatives step in to look after the children, It is estimated that around mothers of 17,000 children are affected every year by the imprisonment of their mothers and that around 40% of these children a looked after by kinship carers, especially grandparents. The meeting was attended by MPs, Lords and third sector organisations, who all agreed that these children and the families who look after them need more support provision. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited to provide oral evidence to the Education Select Committee Inquiry on Children's Social Care |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited to provide oral evidence at the first session of the Education Select Committee Hearing on Children's Social Care |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/event/20796/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/ |
| Description | Media Interview with Sky Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Since the press release regarding the first briefing paper from the study in October 2015, Sky Radio contacted me for an interview regarding children who are growing up in the care of relatives. This news item was then distributed to local radio channels. Excerpts from the interview were aired on LBC Radio (national) and Heart Ipswich. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Media interest: Invited publication on 'The Conversation' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Conversation is an independent source that delivers academic and research news and views, to the public. Subsequent to the embargoed press release, which was issued on the 12th of October regarding the first briefing paper from the study, the Education and Society Editor from The Conversation contacted me to write an article summarising the findings from the first briefing paper. The article was published on the 14th of October 2015. Since the publication of this article, as of the 9th of November 2015, the article has been read 856 times, tweeted 61 times, and shared on LinkedIn 9 times and three times on Facebook. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/rising-numbers-of-children-are-brought-up-by-grandparents-or-other-relat... |
| Description | Media interview with UCB radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Live radio interview on the state of children growing up in England |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bris.ac.uk/fssl/media/ucb-201015-kinship-care.mp3 |
| Description | Organisation of 'Using Secondary Data in Research Conference' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This free conference was organised as an activity to disseminate finding from this research study to the academic community. The event was oversubscribed and was attended by 80 delegates. The event showcased how secondary data sources have been used by researchers, highlighted some of the quantitative and qualitative datasets available for analyses and provided information on analytical methodologies, funding opportunities and access conditions. The day included presentations from the UK Data Service, Office for National Statistics, Research team at the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC team), Centre for Multilevel Modelling at the University of Bristol and presentations on research studies covering a range of subjects including social policy, economics, epidemiology and health sciences. This event was organised as an output from ESRC research grant ES/K008587/1 in collaboration with the Jean Golding Institute. Please see link for the workshop slides: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/golding/events/2018/using-secondary-data-in-research-workshop.html |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.bristol.ac.uk/golding/events/2018/using-secondary-data-in-research-workshop.html |
| Description | Press coverage (Bath Chronicle) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Grandparents-step-number-children-raised/story-27967059-detail/story.... |
| Description | Press coverage (Care Appointments) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.careappointments.co.uk/care-news/england/item/38380-significant-increase-in-children-bein... |
| Description | Press coverage (Children and Young People Now) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.cypnow.co.uk/print_article/cyp/news/1154192/majority-of-children-in-kinship-care-live-in-... |
| Description | Press coverage (Community Care) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2015/10/13/three-quarters-children-kinship-care-living-deprived-house... |
| Description | Press coverage (The Guardian) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/13/kinship-carers-risk-poverty-debt-welfare-cuts-family-... |
| Description | Press coverage (The Guardian) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/14/kinship-carers-unsung-heroes-penalised-benefit-... |
| Description | Press coverage (The Independent) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Coverage of the results from the first briefing paper. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kinship-carers-proportion-of-children-brought-up-by-r... |
| Description | Press coverage (Western Daily Press) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Grandparents-shoulder-care-burden/story-27967898-detail/story.htm... |
| Description | Providing advice regarding including kinship care relevant items to the Brazilian Census |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | There is a lack of data on children in kinship care in Brazil. I was invited to meet with the lead of ACER Brasil and a researcher from the Applied Economic Research Institute (IPEA), who are advocating for the inclusion of a kinship care question in the Brazilian census. Based on our analyses of the UK Census to determine the number of children in kinship care, I provided advice on formulating effective questions for the Brazilian census. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Radio Coverage (LBC Radio (national)) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Radio coverage (Heart Ipswich) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News coverage of results from the first briefing paper published in October 2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Re-imagining Kinship Care Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organisation and part funding of 'Re-imagining Kinship Care Conference, held at Church House, Westminster, London, on the 30th of November 2017. 150 delegates attended (practitioners, policymakers, third sector organisations, kinship carers, media). The study output was presented at this conference and the afternoon workshop time was used to 're-imagine' kinship care in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |