The government has announced £8.4 million to expand Family Finding programmes across England, giving children in care and care leavers opportunities to reconnect with relatives, former carers, teachers and other trusted adults. Since 2023, 25 programmes have been funded, with participants gaining nearly two additional meaningful relationships on average, and more than a third reconnecting with immediate family.

The funding reflects the level of isolation many children in care face. As of March 2025, more than 81,000 children were in care, one in ten moved home three or more times in a year, and more than one in five were living over 20 miles from their home community.

Alongside this, the Department for Education has launched an expert led review of children’s homes and a six week public consultation on new statutory guidance for information sharing between safeguarding practitioners, closing 14 July 2026.

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said: “We are giving more children in care the chance to reconnect with people important to them and build the lifelong relationships that most of us rely on for love, support and stability throughout adulthood.”