Celebrating Nottinghamshire's kinship carers
Every October, we celebrate our Nottinghamshire kinship carers as part of Kinship Care Week.
When a birth parent is unable to care for their child, the child may live with a relative, friend or connected person, and that person is known as a kinship carer.
At the council, we have a dedicated kinship support service, where carers can get advice and guidance, as well as meet other people in similar situations. We’re currently supporting around 150 children and their kinship families – but many more might not even know that support is available.
Kinship carers can be grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, family friends or other connected people known to the child.
I truly understand the sacrifice and love it requires to be a kinship carer. I have personally been there myself unofficially, with no support.
During Kinship Care Week, I got to meet and talk to some of our fantastic kinship carers. Hearing their stories highlighted how valuable the support service is, and how it helps them make a difference for Nottinghamshire children.
Our team offers targeted support, general advice, and connects families to local or national support groups. Some of the support available includes:
Reviewing special guardianship order support plans, or plans for families on other legal orders
Information and guidance to support you and your child which might include home visits where the team consider alongside you, practical strategies to help support you and your kinship child
Advice regarding kinship allowances, benefits entitlements and education entitlements
A phoneline and email address during office hours and a dedicated kinship website, alongside out of hours support.
I am dedicated to supporting children and young people in Nottinghamshire in the best way possible, and our kinship carers play a vital role all year round. They ensure children stay connected to family and community, and provide stability when children need it most. Now that this year’s Kinship Carer Week is finished, I want to continue to celebrate and shine a light on the importance of kinship care and ensure that carers know about, and can access, the support they need.
If you or someone you know is a kinship carer, do not hesitate to contact our kinship support service calling 0115 804 1407 or emailing kinshipsupport@nottscc.gov.uk.
Councillor Rory Green, Cabinet Member, Children and Families, Nottinghamshire County Council
