Activities are taking place in Liverpool next week to promote awareness of Kinship Carers and let people know about the amazing work they do.
Kinship care is when a family member or a close friend of the family step in to take on the care of a children. This can be due to the death of a parent, imprisonment or issues to do with mental health, drug or alcohol addiction.
It has huge advantages as research shows that the outcomes for young people staying within the family are much better.
As part of National Kinship Awareness Week from 10-14 October, a series of events have been organised by Kinship Carers Liverpool, a charity based at Ellergreen Community Centre in Norris Green, which supports Kinship Carers from right across Liverpool.
WATCH: Video about the work of Kinship Carers Liverpool
Kinship Carers from Periscope CIC on Vimeo.
Pauline Thornley, Project Co-ordinator for Kinship Carers Liverpool, said: “Our project supports the hidden number of carers out there who are supporting family members and keeping them out of local authority care.
“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 these families’ needs.”
Councillor Barry Kushner, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We know from experience that it is really beneficial for the children to have the continuity and comfort of being looked after by relatives, rather than being placed in care.
“Kinship Carers Liverpool do amazing work and we are extremely grateful to them for the support that they provide to young people and carers.”
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:
Monday 10 October: 10am-noon – cake and cuppa morning
Tuesday 11 October: 6-8pm – community chatter with kinship families
Wednesday 12 October: 6-8pm – kin-kids party
Friday 14 October: 12-3pm – afternoon tea for kin carers
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
