What is kinship care?
Kinship care often begins with a family crisis, with a child whose parents are no longer able to care for them. When a loved one steps in – a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or family friend, they become a kinship carer, bringing up the children they love.
Kinship families in the UK are raising over 200,000 children and kinship care can be life changing and challenging, there’s often little chance to prepare. Plans are pushed aside. Relationships, jobs and savings are sacrificed. Yet kinship carers do it without a thought for themselves because they put the children first.
Kinship Care Week increases understanding and recognition of the role of kinship carers and the challenges they often face, but importantly, it’s also an opportunity to thank kinship carers for the incredible job they do raising children.
We’re ready for Kinship Care Week!
This year, we’re working with Grandparents Plus to celebrate Kinship Care Week online. We are asking kinship families to share selfies, pictures of their families, and stories about what makes them a #ProudKinshipCarer or part of a #ProudKinshipFamily.
Kinship carers and people who work with kinship carers can follow the hashtag #KinshipCareWeek and share their stories and images online.
Tuesday 6 October, 7.30pm Quiz Night
Wednesday 7 October, 11am - 1pm Virtual Support Group including a session with the local Grandparents Plus Advice Service and tea party
Who are Grandparents Plus?
Grandparents Plus is the leading kinship care charity in the UK. They support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward. Kinship carers who need support can get in touch here: https://www.grandparentsplus.org.uk or call 0300 123 7015
#KinshipCareWeek