Over 500 people visit Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park to celebrate Kinship Care Week

Over 120 families visited Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park this week to celebrate the final day of Kinship Care Week. 

The special day out offered children in kinship care and their families a rare chance to step away from the pressures of everyday life, meet others who share similar experiences and enjoy a day of fun hosted by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). 

Across Scotland, more than a third of looked after children live in kinship care, highlighting the vital role played by grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and family friends who step in to provide loving homes when children need them most. 

Ben Supple, deputy chief executive of the wildlife conservation charity, said: “Our partnership with Children First, which provides the Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland, gives these incredible families a welcoming space where they can slow down, spend time together and reconnect with nature. 

“Seeing families exploring the park, making enrichment toys for the animals, discovering new habitats and simply enjoying time together was incredibly special. For many, it was a chance to relax, make memories and take a well-deserved break.” 

The event was part of a wider programme of in-person and online events throughout Kinship Care Week which celebrated the vital role kinship carers play in the lives of Scotland’s children and young people. 

Kinship Care Week 2026 has been organised by The Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland which is provided by Children First on behalf of the Scottish Government. The service provides kinship families with emotional, financial, practical and legal support.  

Linda Jardine, director of children and families services at Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, said: “Kinship carers are extraordinary people who open their homes and their hearts to raise the child of a relative or friend. Because of them, children can grow up safe, loved, and stay connected to their wider family and community. 

“But while kinship care can be deeply rewarding, many families face significant financial, practical and emotional challenges. That’s why moments like this matter so much. We are so grateful to RZSS and the players of People’s Postcode Lottery for giving families the chance to put those pressures aside for a while and enjoy making special memories with the children they care for.”  

During their visits, families were delighted to see some of the zoo and park’s most loved residents, including Babu the sun bear and polar bears Walker and Arktos. 

Carol from North Lanarkshire who is a Kinship Carer for her two granddaughters, said: “Events like these are just incredible. I’m a kinship carer for my two granddaughters and this is the first time we’ve ever been able to take them to the zoo. Seeing their wee faces light up has been amazing. It means so much to know there are events like this for kinship carers.” 

The family day out has been provided thanks to the generosity of People’s Postcode Lottery players and with support from Scottish Government funding.