Support for kinship carers
Get information to help you care for a child in your family or network. On this page you can find advice, peer support, training and breaks.
Kinship
Kinship is the national charity for kinship carers.
You can get:
- advice and information
- support from trained advisers
- the Someone Like Me peer support service
Get advice from Kinship
The Kinship Advice Team gives free advice and information to kinship carers in England and Wales.
They can support you at any stage of your kinship care journey, whether you are:
- thinking about becoming a kinship carer
- new to kinship care
- already caring for a child
The team can help you understand your options and find the right support.
Find more information and contact the Kinship Advice Team at kinship.org.uk
Talk to another kinship carer
Someone Like Me is a free service from Kinship.
You can speak to a trained kinship carer who understands what it is like to care for a child in your family or network. They can listen, share their experience and help you feel less alone.
Find out about the Someone Like Me service at kinship.org.uk
Family Rights Group
Family Rights Group is a charity that supports kinship carers, parents, family members and friends who are caring for a child. They can help when children's services or the courts are involved in decisions about a child's care.
You can get:
- free advice and information
- easy-to-read guidance and factsheets
- template letters
- online discussion forums
- a confidential advice line
- webchat with an adviser
FRG can help you understand your rights, make informed decisions and speak up for yourself and your family.
Find out more on the Family Rights Group website at frg.org.uk
Support for foster carers and special guardians
The Fostering Network
If you are a family and friends foster carer, you can get free and confidential support from The Fostering Network. They offer independent advice to help you in your caring role.
You can still get support from The Fostering Network if you were a family and friends foster carer and later became a special guardian for the same child.
Contact The Fostering Network
24-hour legal, medical and stress support helpline
Telephone: 0844 581 040
Fosterline England
Telephone: 0800 040 7675
PAC-UK Special Guardianship Support Service
If you are a special guardian, you can get free advice and support from PAC-UK.
The service includes:
- advice
- training
- online resources
- support from therapeutic practitioners
To access this support, contact PAC-UK
Email: advice@pac-uk.org
Advice line: 0300 1800 090
Find out more about PAC-UK's Special Guardian Support Service at pak-uk.org
Training
All kinship carers can access training and learning opportunities.
Training can help you:
- build your confidence
- learn new skills
- understand the needs of the child in your care
- meet other carers and share experiences
During your assessment, your social worker may offer you a place on the Skills to Foster course. You do not have to plan to become a foster carer to attend.
The course covers topics including:
- the role of a foster carer
- caring for children and young people
- attachment and relationships
- safer caring
- working with other professionals
- changes and transitions
- children's life stories
- why children come into care
This training can help you feel more prepared and supported in your caring role.
Training for kinship carers
The Kinship Team sends regular emails about training and learning opportunities for kinship carers.
To join the mailing list, email SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk.
Training is available throughout the year. Topics may include:
- online safety
- helping children understand their life story
- supporting healthy relationships
- child development and wellbeing
Kinship carers can also access online learning courses.
For more information:
Email SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk
Coram Family Lives - free parenting courses
Coram Family Lives offer free online parenting courses for parents and carers.
Coram Family Lives: Find a course at coramfamilylives.org.uk
Parenting neurodivergent children
This course is for parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people, with or without a diagnosis.
Topics include:
- communication
- managing change and transitions
- sensory needs
- supporting distressed behaviour
- looking after your own wellbeing
Coram Family Lives: Parenting neurodivergent children at coramfamilylives.org.uk
Parenting teens
This course is for parents and carers of young people aged 11 to 18.
Topics include:
- setting boundaries
- managing behaviour
- improving communication
It may also be useful if your child is approaching their teenage years.
Coram Family Lives: Parenting teens at coramfamilylives.org.uk
Challenging behaviour in teens
This course is for parents and carers who are finding teenage behaviour difficult to manage.
Coram Family Lives: Challenging behaviour in teens at coramfamilylives.org.uk
Kinship training sessions
Kinship offers free training sessions, workshops and events for kinship carers. Training is available online and in person.
Kinship: Training and workshops at kinship.org.uk
E-learning
Kinship carers can access online training through the Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership.
To book training, create an account on the Partnership training page.
Available courses include:
- 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 at wfscp.org.uk
Taking a break from caring
If you feel you would benefit from a planned break in your caring role, please contact the Kinship Care Team. They can talk through the support and options available.
Kinship Care Team
Email: SGOsupport@cumbria.gov.uk