"You are told that you have to make a choice between your own child and your grandchild"
Kinship carers are grandparents, aunties or other relatives who have Special Guardianship Orders to look after the children of absent parents. The group, made necessary because of the lack of advice and support being offered by Salford City Council, has been campaigning for 18 months to get more help for people raising children of a family member.
"As it stands you can get a knock at the door at 2am and be given your grandchildren, and you've nothing" explains Kerry Louise, one of the founder members of Kin Kids "You get no advice, no support and you've no idea what to do. But we can help with that by being a link with the services you are entitled to.
"We set up the group to put people in touch who are bringing up family members' children" she adds "The majority of people involved are grandparents and we're here to give each other support about different issues."
In Salford there are 150 families and approximately 400 children affected. The figures are rising by five families a month.
The group isn't run by social services so is completely independent. It is a safe environment for carers to discuss anything they want. Salford Council is required to set up a support group for kinship carers but has so far failed to do so… "The Council recognises that we are here because it is due an OFSTED report" says Kerry "but we are limited with the access we get to people who need our help."
A Special Guardianship Order is a legal term for a kinship carer and, once obtained, the carer becomes the parent and is entitled to financial help. But Kerry explains that with limited access to others going through kinship carer assessments they cannot give them the information they need, and many are left without this help.
While foster carers get a financial package automatically, together with statutory training and advice, in many cases, kinship carers are left in the dark.
"There are so many people out there doing this who have got no recognition, they have got no financial support, and they've got no legal documents in place" explains Kin Kids co-founder Pam Kadir "So they're basically just carrying on, as a lot of people do, and there is nothing there for them."
As well as offering advice and support, the group organises days out in the school holidays so kin kids can mix and play with other kin kids. They also have monthly meet ups so the adults can have a natter and a brew. And there's plenty to discuss…
"You are told that you have to make a choice between your own child and your grandchild" explains Kerry "We're told that our own children can't go anywhere near us, and that you have to lock them out of your life. This could be a critical time in their life as they've lost their children because they are deemed unfit to be around them, and they may be suffering from addiction or illness and they need their parents. Being a kinship carer is one of the best jobs in the world but it is also the most stressful and traumatic."
Kin Kids is a lifeline for those who find themselves in that position.
North West Kin Kids meets monthly at the
Angel Center on St Philip's Place, off Chapel Street but if you would rather speak to someone direct there are several numbers you can phone anytime day or night
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Call Pam on 07449 935887 or email northwestkinkids@gmail.com or Twitter: /NWkinkids
www.northwestkinkids.co.uk
Words and photo by Steven Speed
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