Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families

A quote from Foundations Deputy Director Donna Molloy’s blog: “We know children from minoritised ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be in informal arrangements than their peers from White backgrounds. At the same time, minoritised ethnic kinship families can face compound adversities caused by structural racism and inadequate support. Building an evidence base on what works for these kinship families is urgently needed.”

The Kinship Zones pilot will explore support for families in formal kinship arrangements. But what about those in informal arrangements, among which minoritised ethnic families are over-represented? Read about our work to find what works for all kinship families: foundations.org.uk/what-works-f...

Photograph with a quote layout featuring a portrait of Aliya Saied-Tessier, Director at Alma Economics, on a blue background. The quote reads: "We are excited to have been commissioned by Foundations to carry out an independent evaluation of the Kinship Zones pilot. This is an important opportunity to contribute to a stronger evidence base about what truly makes a difference for kinship carers and the children they look after."

Foundations is working with @almaeconomics.bsky.social to carry out an independent evaluation of the #KinshipZones pilot, testing the impact of kinship financial allowances.
Aliya Saied-Tessier, Director at Alma Economics, has welcomed the collaboration 👇

foundations.org.uk/foundations-...

February’s newsletter is out! 📨 This month, we talk about our work on supporting #KinshipCare families, our response to the Renewing #Fostering strategy, and an exciting new resource for local leaders & practitioners 👀
Read it here: us19.campaign-archive.com?u=62820447f0...

Graphic displaying Dr Jo Casebourne's comment: “Kinship carers play a vital role in helping to ensure that children can stay safely looked after in their family networks. That’s why we’re pleased to undertake the evaluation of the kinship financial allowances pilot announced today, to help to build the evidence base and shape future support for kinship families.”

Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive of Foundations, has welcomed today’s launch of the Kinship Zones pilot 👉 foundations.org.uk/foundations-...

We welcome today’s #KinshipZones announcement, an opportunity to find out what works to support kinship families. We’re working with Alma Economics to test the impact of the kinship financial allowances pilot. Learn more 👉 foundations.org.uk/foundations-...

Curious about what we’ve been up to at Foundations? At the end of each month, we share updates, insights, and new publications & resources in our newsletter.

Sign up 👉 foundations.org.uk/newsletter

A Foundations branded quote card which reads: "Minoritised ethnic children and young people growing up in kinship care have a very specific experience. Being involved in this work has been impactful and meaningful to me, because it's shown me that we could get closer to finding an answer to it all: there is such little acknowledgement of the experiences of young people like myself, and I don't wish that for the next generation." - Experts by Experience panel member.

NEW BLOG ✍️ We spoke to a member of our Experts by Experience panel about her involvement in the selection of our new projects on #KinshipCare & her views on the impact this research could have for minoritised ethnic children & young people.

Read now ➡️ foundations.org.uk/the-role-of-...

Event 🗓️ 📢 Calling all local authority leaders, multi-agency partnerships & sector colleagues to join us to find out more about how to embed & sustain evidence use to drive change for children & families 👨🏽‍👩‍👧‍👦🏼 foundations.org.uk/news-and-eve...

New project ✨ We have commissioned CASCADE (Cardiff Uni) in partnership with Families in Harmony to explore how #KinshipCare is experienced by children and young people with mixed heritage and/or placed with kinship carers of a different ethnicity.

Find out more: foundations.org.uk/foundations-...

New project ✨ We've launched a qualitative study on #KinshipCare experiences of children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The research is led by @unilancashire.bsky.social, @worcesteruni.bsky.social & Swansea University.
Find out more: foundations.org.uk/foundations-...

New research 📢 We're launching new projects to explore the experiences, needs & perspectives of minoritised ethnic children in #KinshipCare 💭

🤝 @cascaderesearch.bsky.social, Families in Harmony, @unilancashire.bsky.social, @worcesteruni.bsky.social & @swanseauni.bsky.social

🔗 shorturl.at/725eL

As the first month of 2026 draws to a close, we’re looking forward to an ambitious year of driving evidence-based change for children, young people & families.

Sign up to our newsletter to stay in touch with our news, events and research in 2026 🌟 foundations.org.uk/newsletter/

A Foundations branded orange and oatmeal graphic displaying a quote from Donna Molloy, Foundations' Deputy Chief Executive. On the left hand side, the quote reads: "Despite the important role they play, there remains a lack of high-quality UK evidence on how best to support kinship carers. By working closely with delivery partners to strengthen the evidence on what works for kinship families, we can help ensure kinship carers and their children get the support they need." On the right hand side is an image of Donna, which shows her with shoulder length brown hair worn in a side parting. She has green eyes and light skin and is wearing a coral lipstick, and a black blazer.

NEW BLOG ✍️ Our Deputy Chief Exec @donnamolloy.bsky.social shares more about how our new evaluations, launched today, will help to fill critical evidence gaps and improve our understanding of how best to support #kinship families.

Read here: foundations.org.uk/advancing-th...

Yesterday, our team spoke at the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership Conference, sharing more about how our evidence can be used in practice 🗣️

Hosted by Evidence into Practice partner place Wokingham, we delivered a workshop to 90 people across 3 safeguarding partnerships.

NEW PROJECTS 📢 Despite the prevalence of #KinshipCare, there's limited evidence on how best to support kinship families. That's why we're launching pilot RCTs of two promising programmes 🌟

🤝 Kinship, @ntcouncilteam.bsky.social, @cei-global.bsky.social, @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social & @veriangroup.com

A Foundations branded graphic that reads: We're hiring. Finance Officer (x1 FTC). IT & Resources Officer (x1 FTC). Applications close: 23:59, Sunday 25 January. Find out more. foundations.org.uk/join-our-team

Join the team 💼 We're looking for a Finance Officer and an IT & Resources Officer to help ensure the smooth operation of our finances and systems and support the delivery of projects across the organisation.

Closes: 23:59, Sunday 25 January

Apply now ➡️ foundations.org.uk/about-us/who...

REMINDER 🔔 Our first webinar on strengthening local parenting support for parents of children and young people aged 11 to 18 is happening this Thursday 15 January 10:30–12:00 👇 Sign up here to book your spot: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1c9a7d...

A static graphic featuring the following copy: Strengthening local parenting support. Webinar sign up. Hear about the resources available to support local leaders in strengthening their local parenting support offer: Thursday 15 January 2026 10:20 -12:00; Tuesday 20 January 2026 11:00-12:30.

Webinar 💻 Join the Foundations team behind the latest Parenting Practice Guide & speakers from bsky.app/profile/yout... to find out more about strengthening local #ParentingSupport for children & young people 11 to 18 years old.

Sign up for 15 or 20 January here: foundations.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Our refreshed website is live! Explore #EvidenceIntoPractice and check out the map of our 9 Partner Places. Plus, learn about the Foundations Evidence Pie. Find out more: bit.ly/4qaOZLF

Today’s #VAWG strategy recognises no child should have their future determined by being a victim – and that addressing the needs of children affected by #DomesticAbuse is a national priority.

Read our full statement 👉 foundations.org.uk/press-releas...

A Foundations branded quote card, featuring an image of Freya Glendinning, Senior Research Manager at the Youth Endowment Fund. The image shows Freya, who has long medium-blonde hair, light skin and blue eyes. Quote reads: "This practice guide is a really welcome contribution. It brings together a helpful summary of the evidence showing that evidence-based parenting support can improve family functioning, strengthen parent–child relationships and reduce behaviours that challenge. This aligns strongly with the Youth Endowment Fund’s mission to build and use evidence to prevent children becoming involved in violence, particularly by ensuring families facing adversity have access to effective support as early as possible. We know that behaviours that challenge, if left unsupported, can increase children’s vulnerability to later involvement in violence, so ensuring the availability and quality of parenting support is crucial."

The evidence in the new #ParentingThroughAdversity (11-18) Practice Guide aligns strongly with @youthendowmentfund.org.uk's violence prevention mission – as highlighted by their research manager, Freya, who was a key member of the Advisory Group.

Check out the guide here 👉 bit.ly/3XTNoOx

A Foundations branded quote card with an image of Emma Ford, Programme Director at The North West Multi Agency Learning & Support Hub, and member of the Advisory Group for the Parenting Through Adversity (11–18) Practice Guide. Emma has very light blonde, slightly wavy hair that hangs just above her shoulders, worn in a centre parting. Emma has pale skin and wears a light pink polo neck jumper, glasses with beige-coloured frames and a bright pink lipstick. Emma's quote reads: "For parenting support to be effective, it is vital that practitioners remain open and curious. This Practice Guide encourages practitioners to be flexible, adapting the intensity and the frequency of support to each family's needs, to improve outcomes for parents of children and young people aged 11–18. The advisory group on this Parenting Through Adversity (11–18) Practice Guide has helped to ensure that the evidence is translated into practical and relevant guidance to support practice improvement."

A Foundations branded quote card with an image of Christine Thursfield, Group Manager Family Hubs at Telford and Wrekin Council, and member of the Advisory Group for the Parenting Through Adversity (11–18) Practice Guide. Christine has medium-blonde, straight hair, light slightly freckled skin and blue eyes.She is smiling brightly. Christine's quote reads: "All behaviour means something – it is a form of communication from the child or young person. We wanted to place this understanding at the forefront of this Practice Guide, and support practice that understands family dynamics rather than manages them. This is an important factor when engaging with families to support them through challenging situations, and this Practice Guide provides practitioners with key principles to ensure practice aligns with the best available evidence."

💬 Our Advisory Group brought a wealth of knowledge to the development of the #ParentingThroughAdversity (11-18) Practice Guide. Two members – Emma from @StockportMBC & Christine from @TelfordWrekin – reflect on the importance of transforming this evidence into practice 👇 bit.ly/3XTNoOx

ICYMI 🔔 Yesterday we published the latest Practice Guide, putting evidenced-based practice at the fingertips of local leaders to support parents in navigating the adolescent years 👇

Check out the Reflective Tool for actioning the latest #ParentingThroughAdversity (11–18) Practice Guide: bit.ly/3XRJBBj

A foundations-branded quote card featuring an image of Head of Practice Development Nimal Jude. The image shows Nimal as having bobbed dark curly hair, and light-brown skin and brown eyes. She wears a light pink lipstick. The quote reads: “Teenage years are marked by big changes as young people develop and make choices. Evidence shows us that parenting support can strengthen family relationships, support adolescent development, and reduce risks during this time. The latest Practice Guide translates this evidence into practical recommendations for local leaders and practitioners.”

NEW BLOG 🖋️ Our Head of Practice Development, @nimaljude.bsky.social reflects on her experience & why it's so important that local leaders have access to evidence on #ParentingSupport for families facing adversities, with pre-teens & teenagers: bit.ly/48xz0A8

▶️ The Key principles outlined in the #ParentingThroughAdversity (11-18) Practice Guide are drawn from quantitative and qualitative research, as well as common features of effective parenting interventions 👉 bit.ly/3XwQXK9

🔍 The #ParentingThroughAdversity (11-18) Practice Guide provides actionable, evidence-based recommendations for local leaders on effective support for parents of 11 to 18 year olds.

Take a look here 💡https://bit.ly/3K6Tw2E #ParentingSupport

The new 📢 #ParentingThroughAdversity (11-18) Practice Guide for local leaders recommends evidence-based #ParentingSupport to strengthen families.

👉 foundations.org.uk/toolkit/prac...

A Foundations branded quote card featuring an image of Deputy Chief Executive Donna Molloy. The image of Donna shows her with shoulder length golden-brown hair worn in a side parting. She has green eyes and light skin and is wearing a coral lipstick, and a black blazer. Her quote reads: "As the national What Works Centre for Children & Families, we're committed to supporting local authorities to access and deliver effective parenting support. Next week we will be publishing a new Practice Guide on parenting, with a focus on support for parents facing adversities with children and young people aged 11 to 18 years old – filling a critical evidence gap for this cohort."

NEW BLOG by Dep Chief Exec Donna Molloy📝Ahead of the publication of the latest parenting Practice Guide next week, we're at #NCASC25 spotlighting evidence-based #ParentingSupport & how to translate this into practice on the ground: foundations.org.uk/supporting-l...

This image features a picture of Dr Jo Casebourne, the chief executive of Foundations, with a quote attributed to her which reads: "Giving all children the best start in life must begin with ensuring they have the basics to thrive. Growing up in poverty inflicts lasting harm on children’s life chances, has been linked to more children entering the care system, and can contribute to poorer mental health for both parents and children. Parents facing adversity often lack the resources and help to provide the supportive and consistent family environment that children need to thrive, despite their best efforts."

Giving every child the best start in life must begin with ensuring they have the basics to thrive. That's why we welcome the Government's announcement that it will remove the two-child limit.

Our Chief Executive responds to today's Budget: foundations.org.uk/press-releas...