HUNDREDS of households in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have children looked after by siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents, new figures show.

Estimates from the 2021 census suggest there were at least 690 children looked after by 850 kinship carers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

However, information on family relationships is only available for households with fewer than six members – so the true figures may be higher.

The ONS defines kinship care as children aged under 18 being looked after by family members who are not their parents.

Nearly three-fifths of children (59 per cent) lived with at least one grandparent, ONS figures show.

Steve Smallwood, from the ONS, said it is “striking how important grandparents are in providing care”.

The ONS' figures also show those in kinship care households were more likely to have a family member with a disability, and more likely to be missing work due to long-term illness – issues that may be explained by the age of potential kinship carers.

Kinship, a charity supporting such families, welcomed the figures, but warned they are not "enough to give us the accurate and robust understanding of kinship families" needed for policy on kinship relationships.

The charity called the disparity in data collection "unacceptable".

It added: "The invisibility of kinship families allows children and their carers to remain invisible to policymakers – this must end if we are serious about truly transforming support for kinship families of all types throughout England and Wales."

The Government has pledged to publish a national kinship care strategy by the end of 2023.

Cathy Ashley, chief executive of Family Rights Group, said kinship carers can face barriers to support – with many having to give up work to take on caring responsibilities and potentially "driving them into poverty". These barriers can also stop children from getting the support they need after the trauma of losing their parents."