Coram has been commissioned to deliver a major new national research project on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) with the National Kinship Care Ambassador, Dr Jahnine Davis, exploring the lived experiences of children and young people growing up in kinship care across England. The project will run from April to September 2026, with the final report to be presented at the CoramBAAF Kinship Care conference on 12 October.
The study, Listening to Children in Kinship Care: A qualitative exploration of lived experience, will explore the views of children living with relatives or family friends when they cannot live with their birth parents. Despite kinship care being the most common form of alternative care, children’s voices are still largely absent from national policy development. This research will generate new evidence to inform national policy and local authority practice, addressing the longstanding gap in understanding children’s perspectives within the kinship care system.
The study will place children’s voices at its centre. A lived experience youth advisory group, composed of young people aged 18-25 with experience of kinship care, will co-design and shape the approach from the outset, ensuring the research methods are inclusive, accessible and responsive to children’s needs.
Working in partnership with six local authorities, Coram’s research team will use creative methods such as storytelling and art to understand children’s views on relationships, support, identity, wellbeing and what helps them feel safe and able to thrive. The findings will be shared with policy makers, local authorities and practitioners through a series of national events, supporting them to better understand how kinship care arrangements can be strengthened to improve outcomes for children.
Hannah Lawrence, Principal Investigator and Senior Research Manager in the Coram Institute for Children, said: “We’re really excited to be working with the National Kinship Care Ambassador and the DfE on this extremely important project. Hearing directly from children and young people is central to our approach as a research institute, and this research will help ensure their experiences inform future policy and practice.”
Dr Jahnine Davis, the National Kinship Care Ambassador, said: “I am proud to be leading this research, which shines a national spotlight on the experiences of children in kinship care. I am also pleased to be working alongside Coram, whose expertise in amplifying children’s voices brings real added value to this important work. Too often, the perspectives of children in kinship care are missing from the conversations that shape the policies and practices affecting their daily lives. This research represents a significant step towards ensuring every child in kinship care is seen, valued and supported to thrive.”
Dr Paul Shuttleworth, academic advisor at Kingston University, said: “It’s a privilege to contribute to this project. Listening closely to children in kinship care not only enriches our understanding of what matters most to them, but also strengthens the practical steps we can take to improve their daily lives. Being involved in this vital work builds on what I’ve learned from children over many years and helps carry their voices further into policy and practice.”