Grandparents Plus & kinship care support
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27
What this service is
Kinship (formerly Grandparents Plus) is the national charity for grandparents and other family members raising children who cannot live with their parents — and for relatives fighting for contact or care of a child.
What they offer
- Advice service on special guardianship orders, kinship foster care, child arrangements orders and the family court process (kinship.org.uk)
- Peer support groups across England and Wales
- Campaigning and practical guides for kinship carers (allowances, legal options, schooling)
How it fits your family court case
- Grandparents (and other relatives) need the court's permission (leave) to apply for a child arrangements order — see our grandparents' rights guide
- If a relative is stepping in to raise a child, Kinship explains the special guardianship route and what evidence courts want
- Cafcass will usually speak to relatives who are proposed carers — see our Cafcass guide
How to use them
Visit kinship.org.uk for the advice line and guides; join a local peer group if you want support from others in the same position.
Official links
- https://kinship.org.uk (advice + support groups)
- https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce (child arrangements overview)
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with Kinship (Grandparents Plus).
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.