House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Kinship Zones
02 March 2026 · Department for Education
Proposed by Josh MacAlister Lab Whitehaven and Workington
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- Kinship Zones, a pilot programme to improve support for kinship carers and children, launches in seven local areas of England on April 1, 2026.
- The Department for Education will provide over 126m in funding for the three and a half year programme.
- The initiative aims to test coordinated, locally led support and build a shared evidence base on effective kinship care.
Issue summary
The statement discusses the launch of Kinship Zones, a pilot programme aimed at improving support for kinship carers and the children in their care.
Action requested
The Department for Education is launching a Kinship Zones pilot programme in seven local areas across England from April 1, 2026, for three and a half years, with over £126m in funding. The programme will test coordinated, locally led support and develop a shared evidence base on effective kinship care.
Key facts
- Kinship Zones will operate in seven local areas across England from 1 April 2026 for three and a half years.
- The programme will be funded with over £126m of Government funding.
- Each Kinship Zone will repurpose existing expenditure on allowances towards support for family networks.
- The pilot scheme includes an independent evaluation to assess its impact on outcomes for children and families.