Kinship Carers carry out a very important role in supporting children whose parents are unable to care for them for various reasons.
Kinship Care refers to the care provided to children whose parents are unable to look after them on a short or long-term basis. This could include care provided by other relatives or alternatively, by adults who have a connection to the child, such as neighbours or a close friend of the family. Kinship Care, also sometimes known and ‘Friends and Family Care’ may be a permanent arrangement which is sometimes formalised through a legal order or could be temporary and informal.
Councillor Kate Lymer, Executive Councillor for Children, Education and Families said, “There aren’t many better examples of generosity, compassion, and kindness than those of all the kinship carers in our borough, and my sincere thanks go out to each and every carer supporting children and young people every day. Many kinship care arrangements begin informally with family or friends and then grow into a greater responsibility, so I want to remind anyone, whether in an informal or formal kinship care arrangement, to not hesitate to contact our team. Bromley is here to support and can provide advice and access to services to support you.”
Thanking Kinship Carers who provide stability and foundations of support and care for children and young people whose parents are not able to care for them is what make Kinship Care Week (7 to 13 October 2024) a special and necessary celebration, to ensure the significant commitment and impact Kinship Carers have of the lives of children and young people is commended and recognised.
Bromley Council works closely with Kinship, a leading care charity, to identify the needs of our carers and signpost them to the required support services, provide free training, an advice line run by specialists, workshops, and roadshows delivering tips and practical tools.
During Kinship Care Week, Bromley Council will be celebrating with Kinship Care families at an annual Afternoon Tea Party on Friday 11 October. For more information on activities during Kinship Care Week, call the Fostering Duty team on 0208 461 7442.
For more information on Kinship Care in Bromley, please download the Permanency App from the App Store or from the Google Play Store and visit our friends and family care webpage.
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For media enquiries, please contact Liam Scoble in Public Affairs on 020 8313 4688 or email liam.scoble@bromley.gov.uk.