Key Points
- Maura Jackson, a grandmother from Bolton in Greater Manchester, has been caring for her two grandchildren since 2019, when they were aged one and eight; she was 48 at the time.
- The children are thriving under her care, but the financial pressures nearly pushed her to a nervous breakdown.
- She is one of around 5,000 kinship carers set to receive financial assistance through a government pilot initiative backed by £126 million over the first two years.
- Bolton is one of seven Kinship Zones selected for the pilot, alongside Bexley, Newcastle, North East Lincolnshire, Medway, Thurrock, and Wiltshire.
- The pilot provides eligible kinship carers with a means-tested financial allowance equivalent to foster carer rates per child, running for up to 3.5 years, with evaluation to inform national rollout.
- Kinship carers—often grandparents, aunts, uncles, or family friends—step in when parents cannot care full-time, but unlike foster carers, they typically lack consistent financial support.
- The scheme aims to keep children out of local authority care, where outcomes are worse, and recognises kinship care's benefits like better health and employment prospects.
- Minister for Children and Families Josh MacAlister stated: "As a country we owe kinship carers our thanks and our support".
- National Kinship Care Ambassador Jahnine Davis welcomed the pilot as a "milestone" for holistic family support.
Bolton (Bolton Today) April 15, 2026 - A grandmother from Greater Manchester who has shouldered the care of her two grandchildren since 2019 stands to benefit from a groundbreaking government pilot offering financial aid to around 5,000 kinship carers amid mounting economic strains that once pushed her to the brink of collapse.
Who is Maura Jackson and What Challenges Did She Face?
Maura Jackson, 55, from Bolton, took over full-time care of her grandchildren—a one-year-old and an eight-year-old—in 2019 at the age of 48, stepping in when their parents could no longer provide for them. As reported by BBC News journalists in their article "Bolton grandmother welcomes kinship care funding trial" published today, Maura Jackson stated:
"Naturally, you want to [care for them]... because you love them. Yet, you're working full-time and juggling numerous obligations. How do you manage this financially? It's incredibly challenging."
While the children are now thriving—excelling in school and settling well—the initial financial burden proved overwhelming, exacerbating her stress to near-breaking point. Kinship carers like Maura often forgo the steady allowances foster parents receive, relying instead on patchy benefits such as Child Benefit or means-tested local aid, which fail to cover rising costs.
This personal ordeal highlights a broader crisis: thousands of UK family members endure poverty to keep relatives out of care systems where educational and health outcomes lag significantly.
What is the Government's Kinship Care Pilot?
The Department for Education (DfE) launched the pilot on February 27, 2026, announcing seven Kinship Zones with £126 million committed for the first two years, potentially extending to 3.5 years. As detailed in the official government press release "Government launches investment in support for kinship carers", eligible carers in these zones—Bolton, Bexley (Greater London), Newcastle (North East), North East Lincolnshire (East Midlands), Medway (South East), Thurrock (East of England), and Wiltshire (South West)—will receive per-child payments matching foster carer rates, means-tested for fairness.
The initiative targets around 5,000 children, enabling local authorities to redirect savings into family network support and prevent care entries. Foundations, partnering with Alma Economics, will evaluate outcomes to guide national expansion post-Spending Review.
Bolton Council confirmed the zone status in a March 5, 2026, announcement, noting:
"Grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends who step in to provide kinship care for children are to get a significant package of support".
Why Was Bolton Selected as a Kinship Zone?
The seven zones were chosen last June for their diverse geography, demographics, and service models to test scalability, as per the DfE. Bolton (North West) represents urban challenges in Greater Manchester, where kinship care demand is high amid family breakdowns and economic pressures.
As reported by North East Lincolnshire Council on March 31, 2026, in "Kinship Zone Pilot Scheme launches across England": "This is about getting the right support for people who care for children who would otherwise be in the care of the local authority." An online application portal and FAQ page launched there last week, mirroring Bolton's rollout.
The pilot addresses inconsistencies in current support, where some councils offer Special Guardianship Order (SGO) allowances or one-off payments, but many do not, leaving carers like Maura vulnerable.
How Does Kinship Care Differ from Fostering?
Kinship carers provide informal or formal homes to relatives' children, often suddenly, without the training or funding foster carers get. Unlike fostering, which includes regular visits, training, and full allowances, kinship support varies—potentially including Child Tax Credits or council aid under SGOs, but often means-tested and insufficient.
A 2021 University College London report cited by the DfE shows kinship-raised adults have lower long-term illness rates and higher employment than those in foster or residential care. Manchester City Council emphasizes kinship foster cares' access to hives, training, and home visits, but informal cares like Maura historically miss out.
What Do Experts and Officials Say About the Pilot?
Minister Josh MacAlister remarked in the DfE release:
"We promised to introduce this scheme to support kinship carers who step up for the children they love and give every child the best possible start in life."
National Kinship Care Ambassador Jahnine Davis, in the same statement, said:
"The launch of the Kinship Zones pilot marks an important milestone... I hope it will be a valuable resource for all local authorities."
Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive of Foundations, added:
"Kinship carers play a vital role... we’re pleased to undertake the evaluation".
Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza noted:
"I have called for kinship carers to be given a financial allowance... so I am grateful to the government".
Cathy Ashley OBE of Family Rights Group stated:
"The pilot is taking a groundbreaking step which will make a difference to 4,500 children".
Lucy Peake of Kinship said:
"A guaranteed allowance equal to the foster care allowance will be life-changing".
James Bury of CoramBAAF welcomed it as "encouraging", hoping for wider rollout.
What Impact Could This Have on Families Like Maura's?
For Maura Jackson, the pilot promises relief after years of strain, allowing focus on the children's wellbeing. She told BBC: the financial "how do you manage this?" dilemma defined her early years, but aid could stabilise thousands more.
Kinship UK’s February 26, 2026, coverage noted the pilot "will aim to discover whether providing kinship carers with life-changing financial support will help keep children within loving..." families. North East Lincolnshire's portal underscores recognition of carers' "vital role".
Studies like Case Western Reserve University's on US grandmothers link full-time caregiving to depression risks, underscoring UK urgency. Bolton's inclusion could model success, saving costs—kinship is cheaper than care homes—while boosting outcomes.
What Support Exists Beyond the Pilot?
Pre-pilot, grandparents might claim Child Benefit, Tax Credits, or Specified Childcare Credits; over pension age adds Pension Credit options. Local councils offer SGO means-tested aid or essentials payments. Manchester provides fostering-like perks for approved kinship carers.
The pilot builds on Jahnine Davis's report urging 'think family' approaches. As Day Nurseries advised on April 6, 2026: permanent carers may get nursery cost aid if low-income.
Will the Pilot Expand Nationwide?
DfE plans evaluation for "robust learning" before expansion, with transparency via published findings. Zones tailor delivery locally, redirecting savings. Kinship CEO Lucy Peake hailed it as a "first step" against inequity pushing families into poverty.
Bolton Today will monitor Maura's progress and applications. Success could transform support, honouring carers' sacrifices.