Council launches local offer to support kinship families
A special celebration event was held this week to highlight Gateshead Council's local offer of support and advice for Gateshead kinship carers and children they care for.
Kinship care is when children who are unable to live with their parents are cared for by other relatives or a close family friend. This can include grandparents, aunts and uncles, older siblings or a close family friend.
These situations can often happen quite suddenly and can mean significant sacrifice and dedication from those who take on the responsibility.
The Gateshead Kinship Care Local Offer outlines the support available including in areas such as family mediation, legal advice, education, one-to-one and group support, social events and financial advice, both from the council and from other organisations.
The social groups provide carers and children with peer support from other families, and specialist focus groups cover topics such as therapeutic parenting and managing family time.
Carers also have access to the council's Learning Hub which offers face-to-face and online training in subjects such as neurodiversity, attachment, drug and alcohol awareness and education.
The Kinship Care team was set up in April 2021 to work closely with kinship families to support both carers and the children to help them through what can be a difficult time.
At the National Children and Young People Awards in 2023, the team won the Biggest Impact Award for their efforts to promote positive change in the lives of children and families and they continuously look for ways to improve the service provided.
The celebration, which was held at the Deckham Family Hub on Wednesday 16 April, saw councillors, staff from the council's specialist Kinship team and Gateshead's kinship families come together to highlight the local offer and enjoy fun Easter activities.
Councillor Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "Gateshead Council is committed to providing a package of support to meet the needs of kinship carers and the children in their care.
"Wherever possible we want our children and young people to live with and be cared for by someone who is familiar to them, and they feel comfortable with, and our kinship local offer is there to support this process for the children.
"It was lovely to speak to some of our kinship families at the event and hear about how the support they have received from our kinship team has been invaluable."
A special celebration event was held this week to highlight Gateshead Council's local offer of support and advice for Gateshead kinship carers and children they care for.
Kinship care is when children who are unable to live with their parents are cared for by other relatives or a close family friend. This can include grandparents, aunts and uncles, older siblings or a close family friend.
These situations can often happen quite suddenly and can mean significant sacrifice and dedication from those who take on the responsibility.
The Gateshead Kinship Care Local Offer outlines the support available including in areas such as family mediation, legal advice, education, one-to-one and group support, social events and financial advice, both from the council and from other organisations.
The social groups provide carers and children with peer support from other families, and specialist focus groups cover topics such as therapeutic parenting and managing family time.
Carers also have access to the council's Learning Hub which offers face-to-face and online training in subjects such as neurodiversity, attachment, drug and alcohol awareness and education.
The Kinship Care team was set up in April 2021 to work closely with kinship families to support both carers and the children to help them through what can be a difficult time.
At the National Children and Young People Awards in 2023, the team won the Biggest Impact Award for their efforts to promote positive change in the lives of children and families and they continuously look for ways to improve the service provided.
The celebration, which was held at the Deckham Family Hub on Wednesday 16 April, saw councillors, staff from the council's specialist Kinship team and Gateshead's kinship families come together to highlight the local offer and enjoy fun Easter activities.
Councillor Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "Gateshead Council is committed to providing a package of support to meet the needs of kinship carers and the children in their care.
"Wherever possible we want our children and young people to live with and be cared for by someone who is familiar to them, and they feel comfortable with, and our kinship local offer is there to support this process for the children.
"It was lovely to speak to some of our kinship families at the event and hear about how the support they have received from our kinship team has been invaluable."
