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Kinship care celebrated in Liverpool

Activities are taking place in Liverpool to promote awareness of ‘kinship carers’ – who take on children that would otherwise end up in foster care. 

Kinship care is where a child is placed with a family member or a close friend of the family, rather than being fostered by the local authority.

It has huge advantages as it ensures continuity of care for the young person because they remain with someone they know.

As part of National Kinship Awareness Week from 9-13 October, a series of events have been organised by Kinship Carers Liverpool, a charity based at Ellergreen Children’s and Community Centre in Norris Green.

Pauline Thornley, Project Co-ordinator for Kinship Carers Liverpool, said: “What we are trying to do is let people know about the amazing work that our kinship carers do and tell other kinship carers that we are here to support them.

“The choice of whether to become a kinship carer can happen to anyone who has relatives or close friends with children.

“Anyone of us could become a Kinship Carer, the reasons are wide and varied, ranging from the tragic death of a parent, imprisonment or issues to do with mental health and drug or alcohol addiction.

“We run courses and hold events and activities for both carers and young people, providing the support they need to help them through life’s challenges. We offer unique and tailor-made services that specifically address the needs of these families.”

Councillor Barry Kushner, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “”There are so many cases where grandparents, aunts and uncles step in to provide a stable home for children in their family, many of whom may have ended up in care.

“These family members need support and Kinship Carers Liverpool do an incredible job providing advice and support to young people and carers and we are extremely grateful to them for their work.”

Anyone who is a kinship carer is welcome to attend the following activities at Ellergreen Children’s and Community Centre on Ellergreen Road in Norris Green:

Mon 9 Oct: 10am – 2pm – coffee morning, bingo and lunch

Wed 11 Oct: 6 – 8pm – kin-kids party

Fri 13 Oct: 12 – 3pm – afternoon tea for kin carers with food, music and entertainment

More information about Kinship Carers can be found at www.kinshipcarersliverpool.co.uk, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kinshipcarelpool and on Twitter @KinshipLpool. A video about their work can be found at https://vimeo.com/181829411

Liverpool Waterfront