by Rachel Farnham, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Durham County Council
This month we have all celebrated Foster Care Fortnight with lots of celebrations across County Durham, the North East and the UK, but as I was scrolling through social media last bank holiday weekend, I came across the BBC’s Caring Matters week (23 to 30 May 2026) – a week of special programmes and stories bringing caring into the spotlight and helping carers feel seen, understood and supported.
This made me reflect on how important kinship is to our children’s system and how lucky we are to have the committed army of loving carers who step in every single day for children who are connected to them.
Take a look at CBeebies Parenting online to watch an emotional story of kinship care as Paul tells how he brought his young goddaughter into his family home and how his own children have risen to the occasion.
Watching Paul and Sidney got me thinking of Chrissy and Korreena from our own Durham family. Chrissy stepped in to provide a loving stable home for her four grandsons when her own son Craig was having difficulties. Korreena stepped in to care for her four grandchildren when they couldn’t live with their Mum, Korreena’s daughter.
These videos of Chrissy, Craig, Korreena and the children mean the world to me and show the special power of kinship care. Craig talks bravely about his drug use and how he found the motivation to get clean. Chrissy talks about how hard it was watching Craig on drugs and how she thought it would eventually kill him but how proud and ‘chuffed’ she is now. She says “yes I have ended up with his children but we need to work together”.
Korreena and the grandchildren all talk in such a moving way about their memories and how they all came together. They talk about their first Christmas together as a family and reflect on the little things like sitting round the table after tea and talking. Korreena says “from the minute those children came through the door I loved them, because I already did”. She says she “couldn’t be prouder” of them all and the achievements and progress they have all made.
The Implementation Plan for Children’s Social Care, published last week, follows the passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and aims to strengthen support for kinship carers with every council required to publish a local kinship offer backed by national standards so that more children can be cared for by people who are connected to them.
Our Durham family could not care for our children without the nanas and grandads, aunties and uncles, friends and neighbours who provide love and comfort, support and guidance to hundreds of our children, which allows them to stay in their extended families and communities. The support we offer them needs to be at the centre of our minds going forward as we implement the social care reforms.
I will finish with a fabulous picture of our very own Glenda. Glenda is the Team Manager of Durham’s Kinship Care Team. Glenda is loved by us all and adored by our kinship carers. Here she is looking splendid at the Royal Garden Party this month, nominated because of all the great work she does. We all need heroes like Glenda!
