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A recent conference in Liverpool provided a prominent platform for young people with firsthand experience of kinship care to share their stories and ideas for improvement. The event, held at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre, was uniquely designed and led by the young participants themselves, who are involved with the Kinship Carers Liverpool project. This gave them a direct opportunity to engage with professionals responsible for shaping support services for children and families throughout the city.
Kinship care involves children being raised by relatives or close family friends—such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or trusted family friends—when they cannot live with their parents. Currently, over 141,000 children in England and Wales are brought up in this type of care arrangement. The conference served as a vital occasion for these young people to express the realities of life in kinship care, highlighting what forms of support have been most meaningful and offering suggestions on how schools, social workers, and other key figures can better comprehend their experiences.
Throughout the day, the program included presentations, open discussions, and creative workshops all led by young people. It also featured guest speakers such as Dr. Jahnine Davis, National Ambassador for Kinship Care, and Dr. Paul Shuttleworth, a social worker and researcher specializing in kinship care. A recurring theme was the critical importance of hearing young people’s voices and involving them in decisions that directly affect their lives. The event explored how services can collaborate with families to ensure children not only receive good support but also have the chance to flourish.
The conference additionally celebrated the positive achievements of the young people involved in the project, emphasizing the contributions they are making by sharing their lived experiences and guiding the future development of support for children growing up in kinship care. Councillor Liz Parsons, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, highlighted the city’s commitment to including children’s perspectives in service planning: “As a UNICEF Child Friendly City, we’re committed to making sure children’s voices are at the heart of decisions about the services that support them.” She added, “Events like this are an important part of that journey, giving young people a platform to influence change and help shape services for the future.” For those interested in learning more or who think they might be kinship carers, Liverpool’s Kinship Local Offer provides valuable resources and connections within the city’s kinship community
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