Kinship care local offer

Support for kinship carers

Support groups

Taking on the care of a child through kinship can sometimes feel lonely, especially when children have experienced difficult or upsetting situations. It is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed at times. Connecting with other kinship carers who have lived through similar experiences can offer comfort, understanding, and reassurance, and remind carers that they are not alone.

Across Westmorland and Furness, Kinship Support Groups are available in Penrith, Kendal and Barrow. To subscribe to our mailing list and stay up to date with the latest training opportunities and support groups, please email sgosupport@cumbria.gov.uk.

We are keen to develop these support groups so that they are led by kinship carers themselves. If you would be interested in helping to shape or be involved in these peer support groups, please get in touch with sgosupport@cumbria.gov.uk.

Carers have told us how valuable it would be to stay connected through peer-led WhatsApp or Facebook groups, offering shared understanding, encouragement, and advice from others with lived experience.

If this is something you would be interested in leading - by helping to set up and manage social media groups for Westmorland and Furness kinship carers - please get in touch with sgosupport@cumbria.gov.uk.

National kinship charity

Someone Like Me is a free service where you can speak to a specially trained kinship carer volunteer on the phone.

Kinship: Speak to someone like you

The Kinship Advice Team specialises in supporting kinship carers across England and Wales. They understand that every kinship journey is different and can offer support wherever you are on that journey - from first considering kinship care to supporting you as you care for your kinship child or children. 

Contact the Kinship Advice Team

Family Rights Group (FRG) 

Family Rights Group is a charity that provides advice and support to kinship carers, as well as parents, relatives and friends involved in children’s care where social workers or courts are making decisions about a child’s welfare.

They offer a range of services to support families, including online advice through accessible guidance pages, factsheets, and template letters; online forums where families can connect and share experiences; and a free confidential telephone advice line available Monday to Friday, 9:30am–3:00pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

Families can also access a webchat service to speak directly with an adviser and receive tailored information and guidance, as well as support to advocate for themselves.
Further information and support can be accessed via the FRG website.

Family Rights Group (FRG)

Training

Kinship foster carers - whether temporarily approved under Regulation 24 or fully approved as foster carers have access to a wide range of training opportunities. A similar training offer is available to all kinship carers, recognising the shared experiences and challenges of kinship care. 

Training is designed to help carers build confidence, develop practical skills, and feel more supported in responding to the unique needs of the children they care for. It also provides valuable opportunities to meet other carers, share experiences, and learn from one another.

As part of the assessment process, kinship carers are offered the opportunity by their social worker to attend the Skills to Foster course, even if they do not plan to become foster carers. The course covers key areas including; the role of foster carers, identity and life chances, working with others, understanding and caring for children, safer caring, transitions, attachment, children’s histories, and the reasons children come into care. 

The Fostering Network

If you are assessed or approved as a Family and Friends foster carer, you are eligible for support from the Fostering Network. This is a free and confidential service where you can receive independent support and advice.

If you have been a family and friends foster carer and have been granted a Special Guardianship for the same child, you are still entitled to support from the Fostering Network after the SGO is granted.

24 hour legal, medical and stress counselling helpline 0844 581 040
Fosterline England 0800 040 7675

Training for all kinship carers

The Kinship Team provides regular updates via email on training opportunities available to all kinship carers. Contact SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk to sign up to the mailing list.

Throughout the year, a variety of training topics are available, including online safety, supporting children to understand their life story, and helping young people to develop healthy relationships.

Kinship carers have access to a range of e-learning courses, which are also available to foster carers. For further information, please contact SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk

Coram Family Lives

Coram Family Lives offer a wide range of free online parenting courses:

Coram Family Lives: Online parenting courses 

Here is a sample of the online courses available:

Parenting neurodivergent children

This online course is aimed at parents and carers of neurodivergent children, teens and young adults, whether there is a diagnosis or not. The course covers responsive and low demand parenting strategies, managing change and transitions, communication, distressed behaviours, sensory issues, carer burnout, looking after yourself and more. To register for a place:

Coram Family Lives: Parenting neurodivergent children

Parenting teens

This online course is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 11–18 and is also suitable for those whose children are approaching their teenage years. It has been developed by experienced family support workers and covers key topics including setting boundaries, managing behaviour, and improving communication. To register for a place:

Coram Family Lives: Parenting teens

Challenging behaviour in teens

This online parenting course is suitable for parents and carers of young people aged 11–18 who may be finding it challenging to manage behaviour during the teenage years. To register for a place: 

Coram Family Lives: Challenging behaviour in teens

Kinship training sessions 

Kinship runs a wide range of free training sessions, events, and roadshows for kinship carers, both in-person and online.

Kinship: Training and workshops

E-Learning

Kinship carers can access a wide range of training opportunities through the Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership. To take part, carers can visit the Partnership’s website and create an account on the training page, which will allow them to view and book onto courses designed to support them in their caring role.

The current eLearning offer includes:

  • Level 2 Safeguarding Children
  • Child Exploitation and Extra Familial Harm
  • Understanding the Impact of Domestic Abuse
  • Radicalisation and Extremism (Prevent)

Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership: E-learning

Family Action PAC-UK

The PAC UK Special Guardianship Support Service, commissioned by Westmorland and Furness council provides free, confidential, easy to access advice, information, and support to special guardians and the professionals who work with them. It includes a helpline, online resources, support, and training sessions to help carers manage challenges and improve outcomes for children in their care, all delivered by a team experienced in therapeutic care. 

To access this support, contact PAC-UK:
Email: advice@pac-uk.org
Advice line: 0300 1800 090

PAC-UK: Special Guardian Support Service

Best Start Family Hubs

Westmorland and Furness Best Start Family Hubs have a range of workshops, to find out more visit the Learning zone:

Westmorland and Furness Council: Learning zone 

Breaks for kinship carers

If you feel you would benefit from a planned break in your caring role, please contact the kinship care team at SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk to discuss the options with you.