New report – Kinship Carers: How they experience their role in the family

For Kinship Care Week 2026 (5-11 October), Dr Lindsay Reid, Adfam’s Kinship Care Support and Development Coordinator, has published a comprehensive new research study exploring the experiences of kinship carers who care for their grandchildren because of their child’s drug or alcohol use.

The study addresses an important gap in existing research by focusing specifically on the experiences of this group of kinship carers. It explores how they understand and navigate their role within the family, as well as the emotional impact of maintaining a relationship with their child who uses drugs or alcohol while simultaneously caring for their grandchildren.

The research also examines how kinship carers approach parenting their grandchildren when they feel they may not have experienced positive parenting themselves. It considers the challenges they face, the support they need, and what more could be done to improve their circumstances and provide better support for them and their families.

Alongside the full research report, Dr Lindsay Reid has published a summary article highlighting the key findings and assessing their implications for policy and practice.

Download:

• Kinship Carers: How they experience their role in the family – Summary Article
• Kinship Carers: How they experience their role in the family – Full Report

Adfam will also be hosting an online forum event with Lindsay on Thursday 5th November at 11am, to present and discuss the research findings. Sign up to this free event here.