A significant majority of children being raised by kinship carers are struggling to access vital mental health support, a new poll reveals.

Kinship carers – often grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close family friends – step in when parents are unable to provide care.

A survey of 1,036 such carers by the charity Kinship found that 60.1% reported their children are not receiving the mental health assistance needed to address their trauma.

Without tailored support, these families face a "real risk" of breakdown, potentially pushing more vulnerable children into the formal care system, according to the carers.

The charity's annual poll, which surveyed 1,929 carers, also highlighted a sharp rise in difficulties managing children's challenging behaviour, jumping from 52% in 2022 to 66% this year.

Some 13% of respondents expressed doubts about their ability to continue providing care for these youngsters.

Almost three-quarters (71%) of these carers attributed these struggles to the complex social, emotional,…