More than 430 children in Greenwich are being brought up by relatives, friends or other connected adults because their parents cannot, and the council is marking that next week with a run of events and a new three-year kinship care strategy. It starts on Monday 5 October with an advice surgery and a launch event bringing council services and partner organisations together in one room, and ends with a family celebration day on Saturday 10 October. Carers in Blackheath Standard, Westcombe Park and Kidbrooke who want a place at either need to email the council's kinship team.
The strategy promises practical help, money, training and advice, and the council says the number of children in these arrangements is rising. A surgery and a party are the easy part; the test is whether the financial support behind them arrives for carers who never planned to be parents again.
- Greenwich is marking Kinship Care Week from 5 to 10 October with a week-long programme of events and the launch of a new Kinship Care Strategy and Local Offer.
- The strategy covers 2026 to 2029 and promises practical assistance, financial support, training, advice and partnership working.
- Over 430 children in Greenwich are being cared for in kinship arrangements, and the number is increasing.
- Kinship carers are relatives, friends or other connected adults who care for children when parents cannot.
- The week begins on Monday 5 October with a resources surgery and the official launch at a multi-agency marketplace event, and ends with a family celebration event on Saturday 10 October.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 3 October 2026.
- www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/news/2026/royal-greenwich-celebrates-families-who-step (Council announcement)
Claim by claim (6 facts, 1 editorial judgements)
- Greenwich is marking Kinship Care Week from 5 to 10 October with a week-long programme of events and the launch of a new Kinship Care Strategy and Local Offer. — Council announcement, 2026-10-02“This Kinship Care Week (5 to 10 October) the Royal Borough of Greenwich is recognising the invaluable role of kinship carers to the borough with a week-long programme of events and the launch of a new”
- The strategy covers 2026 to 2029 and promises practical assistance, financial support, training, advice and partnership working. — Council announcement, 2026-10-02“The strategy, which covers 2026-2029, outlines how the council will strengthen support for kinship carers through practical assistance, financial support, training, advice and partnership working”
- Over 430 children in Greenwich are being cared for in kinship arrangements, and the number is increasing. — Council announcement, 2026-10-02“In Greenwich, over 430 children are being cared for in kinship arrangements, and this number is increasing.”
- Kinship carers are relatives, friends or other connected adults who care for children when parents cannot. — Council announcement, 2026-10-02“Kinship carers are relatives, friends or other connected adults who step in to care for children when their parents are unable to do so”
- The week begins on Monday 5 October with a resources surgery and the official launch at a multi-agency marketplace event, and ends with a family celebration event on Saturday 10 October. — Council announcement, 2026-10-02“The Kinship Care Week 2026 activities will begin on Monday 5 October with a Kinship Resources Surgery* offering kinship carers access to advice, guidance and support from council services and partner ”
- Carers wanting to attend the surgery or the celebration must email the council's kinship duty team. — Council announcement, 2026-10-02“*If you are a kinship carer interested in attending one of the events, please email [email protected].”
- Judgement: A surgery and a celebration are the easy part; the real test is whether the promised financial support reaches carers.