Young people with lived experience of kinship care took centre stage at a special Liverpool conference, sharing their stories, experiences and ideas for change with professionals from across the city.
Held at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre, the Kinship Young People’s Conference 2026 was designed and led by young people involved with the Kinship Carers Liverpool project, giving them the opportunity to speak directly to the people who help shape services and support for children and families.
Kinship care is when a child cannot live with their parents and is cared for by a relative or close family friend, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend. Across England and Wales, more than 141,000 children are being raised in kinship care.
Throughout the day, young people spoke openly about what life in kinship care is really like, what support makes the biggest difference, and how schools, social workers and other professionals can better understand their experiences.
The conference featured a range of presentations, discussions and creative sessions led by young people, alongside guest speakers including Dr Jahnine Davis, National Ambassador for Kinship Care, and Dr Paul Shuttleworth, a social worker and researcher specialising in kinship care.
A key theme throughout the event was the importance of listening to young people and involving them in decisions that affect their lives. Attendees explored what good support looks like from a young person’s perspective and how services can work alongside families to help children thrive.
The conference also celebrated the achievements of young people involved in the project, highlighting the positive difference they are making by sharing their experiences and helping to shape future support for other children growing up in kinship care.
Councillor Liz Parsons, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “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.”
“The young people behind this conference have shared powerful experiences and valuable insights that can help shape better support for kinship families across Liverpool. Their perspectives are incredibly important in helping us understand what works well, where challenges exist and how we can continue improving services for children and families. 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.”
Anyone who thinks they may be a kinship carer, or would like to learn more about the support available, is encouraged to explore Liverpool’s Kinship Local Offer and connect with the city’s growing kinship community.
Find out more about Liverpool’s Kinship Local Offer: https://liverpool.gov.uk/children-and-families/childrens-social-care/kinship-local-offer/
