Tasked with exploring ways to improve the law around kinship care to make it simpler and easier to navigate, the Law Commission for England and Wales has now published provisional proposals for reform: ow.ly/JmKo50ZnT8y

Family Rights Group's congratulate its Chief Executive, Cathy Ashley 🇺🇦 OBE, on her appointment to the House of Lords. Cathy has been Chief Executive of the charity for 22 years, and her ennoblement recognises her tireless work and advocacy on behalf of children and families.

Too many children in care are moved miles away from the people & places that matter to them. Become's new report looks at how distance moves increase isolation & risk, echoing what we hear from young people benefiting from our Lifelong Links approach. Full report: https://ow.ly/wJmm50ZnGPo

“I feel truly fortunate to be part of the Family Rights Group community. This experience has been really positive and unlike anything I’ve encountered before.” - Principal Practice Lead Discover our Network membership options: https://ow.ly/qmG050Y3J25🔗

Ofsted is changing how it inspects children's services. This week our parents’ panel were one of the first groups to share their experience with Ofsted & discuss how the inspection framework should be overhauled. https://ow.ly/Kw2E50Zm0Ac

Lifelong Links is a game-changing approach to ensure that children in care have lasting relationships they can depend on. An integral part of the process is our online app, Circles, which helps to guide conversations with a child about their support network: https://ow.ly/lrbu50Zjc6q

This week, help and support for kinship carers was significantly improved as two important elements of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act came into force. We are proud to have worked with families and young people to inform and influence the legislation to make it stronger.

Lifelong Links is a game-changing approach to ensure that children in care have lasting relationships they can depend on. An integral part of the process is our online app, Circles, which helps to guide conversations with a child about their support network: https://ow.ly/lrbu50Zjc6q

Ofsted praises Southwark Council children’s services for the effective use of family group conferences to help identify strengths & wider support within family networks and sustain important relationships. Find out more about family group conferences: https://frg.org.uk/family-group-conferences/

“You need someone in your corner, cheering you on” Lifelong Links connects children in care, or care leavers, with people who care about them. And in this video clip, Bayley, a young person from our advisory group, sums up perfectly why Lifelong Links is needed. https://ow.ly/oxTC50ZfOPO

Why are family group conferences important? In this short video, Kitty and Ellie, two young people we have worked with, explain. If your local authority wants to set up, expand or extend a family group conference service, we can help: https://ow.ly/eQKh50ZfzNV

"A recent Ofsted visit to Barking and Dagenham council highlights the benefits of Lifelong Links. To date, over 4,000 children and young people have benefited from Lifelong Links. Want to know more? Go to: https://frg.org.uk/lifelong-links/

Can you spare a moment to nominate us to receive £5,000? Please nominate us: movementforgood.com/draws/specia...

Ray, a member of our kinship carers’ panel, speaks for us all here at Family Rights Group, when he sends his best wishes to all those who carry out a fathering role, whatever their circumstances. Happy Father's Day!

For #LearningDisabilityWeek, we’re sharing a vlog from Kyle, a member of our parents’ panel. He talks about how difficult it can be for families to understand the words that social workers use, and why our new film is so important. Watch he full film: https://ow.ly/5joU50YyJBa

Ofsted praises Wandsworth Council's children’s services: “Lifelong Links strengthens support networks by reconnecting young people with important adults, including specific work with care leavers who are parents.” https://ow.ly/WvpV50ZbP9j #LifelongLinks #BuildNotBreak #EnduringRelationships

We all need people to turn to for practical & emotional support. Yet too often the care system breaks important relationships for children. Lifelong Links which seeks to change that - building lasting, loving relationships for children in care and care leavers: https://ow.ly/SN5m50YnVQ9

“I was not sure what I was letting myself in for” Read Ray’s blog to hear how he was supported to take part in our kinship carers’ panel and is now an active and confident contributor, helping to shape the child welfare system: https://ow.ly/A1ky50Z9RNj

Lifelong Links builds lasting, loving relationships for children in care & care leavers. It creates support networks that last into adulthood. Watch Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister speak about meeting young people who have benefited from Lifelong Links with Hertfordshire County Council.

We are taking part in the London Legal Walk today! The need for free legal help is greater than ever. Demand for Family Rights Group’s advice service is high, but due to funding constraints we can currently only answer four in ten callers. Can you sponsor us? https://ow.ly/opfp50Z8Uph Many thanks!

Coventry City Council is one of 7 local authorities who took part in a Lifelong Links trial in 2017, having been graded Inadequate by Ofsted. Since then, they have worked to implement, embed & sustain their Lifelong Links service, and this year were graded Outstanding! https://ow.ly/zXQn50Z77eG

Big news for children in care. The Government has announced £8.4 million to help children in care build lifelong, loving relationships — our Lifelong Links approach is central to that mission.

After taking on the care of her great nephew Adelaide realised she had more to offer, and began a volunteering journey that brought connection, confidence and a feeling of being seen: https://ow.ly/WTsc50Z71TM #VolunteersWeek

This week we’re announcing two important appointments. Sir Andrew McFarlane joins as a new Patron following his retirement as President of the Family Division. @angelafrazerwicks.bsky.social steps down from our Board to become our first ever Ambassador. ow.ly/LAJa50Z642r

Please sponsor us! The need for free legal help is greater than ever. Demand for Family Rights Group’s advice service is high, but due to funding constraints we can currently only answer four in ten callers: https://ow.ly/92pv50Z54Um Thank you!

Last week, our Chief Executive Cathy Ashley 🇺🇦 spoke about Lifelong Links to the APPG for Care-Experienced Children & Young People, on how the care system can protect and support children's relationships. With Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families, Goal17, and Barnardo's.

“I am not just the hardest chapters of my life.” Kristy, a member of our parents’ panel shares a powerful story of loss, stigma, and finding strength. A moving reminder of why lived experience must be heard. 💜 https://ow.ly/ka5050Z4Eme

Families have said that the family group conference process was the first time they felt involved and included in decision making about their own family. It is a voluntary process and families cannot be forced into one. 👉 https://ow.ly/hl2O50UIiIG

Are you a family group conference or Lifelong Links practitioner who wants to keep on top of the latest sector news and legislative changes, while learning from other professionals? Join our FGC and Lifelong Links Network: https://ow.ly/WZIu50Y9rOT

How can Lifelong Links support care experienced prison leavers? Lifelong Links connects children in care, or care leavers, with people who care about them. The aim of Lifelong Links is to ensure that a child in care, or a care leaver, has a positive, loving support network that they can rely on.⬇️