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Children and young people in care win landmark right to brothers and sisters contact
Children and young people in the care system across England will gain new legal rights to contact with their siblings, as the Government has tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would give children in the care system the legal right to ‘reasonable contact’.
This follows a thirteen-year campaign for this change led by Family Rights Group. It has been warmly welcomed by the charity Become, which worked collaboratively with Family Rights Group on the amendments to the Bill.
Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group, said:
“Growing up alongside brothers or sisters is a fundamental part of childhood that so many of us take for granted. Yet, for too long, our care system has overseen a quiet injustice that the wider public rarely sees: breaking the links between siblings, often when they need one another the most.
“By tabling this amendment, the Government is finally righting this historic wrong. When we provide young people with the right scaffolding, we set them up for a lifetime of success, and sibling bonds are the very foundation of that support. This is a victory for care-experienced young people to ensure our system actively protects the relationships that matter most.”
Anela Anwar, Chief Executive of Become, said:
“We’re delighted the Government has agreed to change the law to better protect relationships between children in care and their siblings.
“Too often, children are separated from their brothers and sisters, with too little done to maintain those relationships. This change will strengthen duties on local authorities to keep siblings connected and better protect these vital bonds.”
Parice, who has experienced the care system, said:
“Sibling relationships are often built on a strong foundation of support, offering both emotional reassurance and practical help throughout life. For those who have experienced the foster care system, these bonds can be especially significant, providing a vital sense of belonging in times of uncertainty. Shared history and memories create a unique connection, alongside similarities that can feel unlike any other relationship.”
Research from the Children’s Commissioner in 2023 revealed that an estimated 37% of children with a sibling in England – that is 20,000 children – are separated when placed in care. For some children, the chance of being separated is far greater: 93% of older children placed in semi-independent accommodation are separated from siblings. Children who have come into care because of a disability are even more likely to be separated than other children.
Reinforcing the importance of sibling contact, the Family Rights Group has pioneered ‘Lifelong Links’, an approach designed to ensure every child in the care system has lasting, loving relationships, including with their brothers and sisters where possible. Over 4,800 children have benefitted from the service already resulting in better mental health, improved sense of identity and stability and a reduced risk of homelessness.
Notes to editor
- Parice was reconnected with her sibling through the Lifelong Links scheme.
- Lifelong Links is an approach Family Rights Group developed in collaboration with young people, local authorities, families and foster carers. It aims to ensure that children in care have positive and loving support networks that they can rely on into adulthood. Find more information about Lifelong Links.
About Family Rights Group
Family Rights Group is the leading national charity working to ensure the child welfare system supports children to live safely and thrive within their family. We also work to strengthen the family and community networks of those children who cannot live at home.
- Our free specialist advice service supports parents and kinship carers in England, helping them to understand their rights and options.
- We pioneer innovative child welfare practices including family group conferences.
- We set up the Kinship Care Alliance and co-led the first ever Parliamentary Taskforce on Kinship Care. We now service the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care.
- For 50 years, our legal, policy and campaigning work has influenced developments in the child welfare system. For example, we secured important changes for kinship families including an exemption from the two-child tax credit rule and a 2023 extension to legal aid for some prospective kinship carers.
March 2026
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