Many children living with a family member other than their birth parent are there because of drug and alcohol misuse by the parents. The Families Together project aims to develop interventions that build resilience in families and thus improve the protective factors in the lives of vulnerable young people. More details on the project here: http://www.mentoruk.org.uk/families-together-kinship-carers-project/

1. Preventing Harm
Providing Opportunities
Promoting Health and Wellbeing
Twitter #ftkinship

2. 17%
44%
39%
Status of referrals
Looked
after
S.11
Informal
Referrals
87%
7%
3% 3%
Type of Carer
Grandparent
aunt/uncle
sibling
other

3. Baseline Survey
87% happy in their role as kinship carer
79% of carers had felt unsupported and unappreciated
76% had financial concerns
69% stated that kinship care had impacted on their social
lives
78% of carers stated that they had no knowledge of other
services or had access to appropriate information.
91% of carers stressed that they were concerned about the
children in their care

4. Baseline Survey ctd
In caring for the children
62% felt confident to parent
51% worried about dealing with challenging behaviour
Carers felt that the main areas of concern for their
children where:
•School
•Parental contact
•Friendship /socialising

5. Support Groups
“ I never knew that something like this existed
and that there were so many people in a
similar position as me. What a great bunch of
people, I have made some really good friends
here and realise there is light at the end of the
tunnel!”

6. Training
“This has been really interesting and helpful
and made me think about how I can support
Lisa* I am also starting to feel more
confident in understanding why she may act
like she does and how I can respond to this
appropriately. Before I would have just lost
my temper and sent her to her room. I’ve got
a long way to go but I am feeling good about
it.”

7. Community Services
“ I have really appreciated the help I have
received, and I am glad that I have had someone
with me when I have had to attend the numerous
school meetings which have always been really
scary. My relationship with the teacher is
improving and it looks like we are making real
progress in getting support that’s needed.”

8. Working with children
“I get to have some time to myself and he gets to go
out and make friends with other young boys, I love to
see him come home full of beans, big smiles and just
looking a very happy and content little boy.”
“He just seems like a different boy, he has now taken
up football training and is loving it, something that he
always wanted to do but didn’t seem to have the
confidence to go for it. The change in him is fantastic.”
“

9. Progression
94% of carers that we have worked with are happy and
confident in their kinship care role
86% feel that they are more informed and understand the
process they go through
74% of carers feel that they have an increased peer network
63% of carers are now more aware and have used local services
69% of carers stated that they are still concerned about the
children in their care
79% felt that the children in their care had grown in confidence
and had a positive future ahead

10. Taking things forward
1) Kinship care needs to be something that everyone is aware of and
understands
2) Kinship carers need to have more information and be guided through the
process of being a kinship carer and understand the difficulties they may face
3) We need specific training for kinship carers that can support them in their
role and prepare them in supporting the children in their care
4) We need to ensure that support groups are available and that these support
groups empower the carers to support each other
5) We need local support services to be kinship care friendly, and to be trained
to have a better awareness of kinship care
6) We need schools and health services to have a better understanding of
kinship care and awareness of the how this can impact on a young person or
family.
7) We need to ensure that activities are provided for children in kinship
arrangements

11. Thank you &
Thank you Big
Lottery Fund
Any further information on our work
www.mentoruk.org.uk
Admin-scotland@mentoruk.org
www.eukinshipcarers.eu
235 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 7AR
0131 334 8512