On Friday 27 February 2026 the Department for Education launched seven Kinship Zones to support kinship families with the right help at the right time – this includes Bolton.
Kinship carers are adults who step in to provide a loving and supportive home to children in their family whose parents are unable to care for them full-time for a wide range of reasons. They are often grandparents, aunts, uncles or family friends.
The pilot will run for up to three and a half years and each Kinship Zone will receive a package of funding and support, enabling local authorities to tailor delivery to local needs.
Details on how to apply for the Kinship Carers Allowance will be announced in March.
If you are a kinship carer for a Bolton child you can register for more information.