To the new UK Government: please don’t forget kinship children

Add your name to Poppy’s open letter, supported by musician Professor Green, calling for more support for children raised by relatives or family friends.

Poppy, as a child, and musician Professor Green

“I hit crisis point when I was 17 and I struggled to cope. I didn’t have anyone to talk to about how I was feeling. If my grandmother and I had been offered counselling, advice and support back then, it would have reduced my anxiety and helped me cope in school and at home.” Poppy, 23

Kinship’s new research shows children growing up in kinship care like Poppy often suffer from life-changing trauma with no support. Many have experienced abuse, neglect, separation and loss, but their needs are being overlooked and ignored.

That’s why we’re calling on the new Government to take immediate and bold action to improve support for kinship children, so they get the same opportunities to thrive in life.

Poppy has written a heart-felt open letter to the UK Government minister in charge of children’s social care, Education Secretary Bridget Philipson MP, asking her to not forget about kinship children. The letter has already been signed by celebs like Professor Green, who grew up in kinship care.

“I’m standing with #ValueOurLove campaign supporters in calling on you as Secretary of State to ensure all kinship families get the recognition and support they deserve.”

Will you add your name to the open letter calling for the more support for kinship children and their families?

Dear Secretary of State for Education,

Don’t forget about children in kinship care

I was only eight years old when my grandmother stepped up to care for me full time. She made me feel safe. She gave me stability at a time of confusion and disruption in my life. She gave me love.

She gave up work to take me into her home, feed me, care for me and guide me. She received no support to do all this. Times were hard and she struggled to make ends meet – but she did, because she would do anything for me, and she made it work no matter what.

At that young age I felt like a burden, and I couldn’t help feeling responsible for inflicting this sacrifice and strain on my grandmother. No child should feel like that.

I felt invisible as people don’t really have any understanding of kinship care and assume everything is ok despite experiencing separation from my mum and all the challenges that went with managing that relationship. We had to fight against systems that don’t have space for you. It was really confusing as a child.

I hit crisis point when I was 17 and I struggled to cope. I didn’t have anyone to talk to about how I was feeling. If my grandmother and I had been offered counselling, advice and support back then, it would have reduced my anxiety and helped me cope in school and at home. Research by Kinship backs this up: only 4 in 10 said their children had ever accessed any emotional or educational support.

I’m 23 now and I don’t want any of the more than 141,000 children in kinship care in England and Wales to go without the support they need. Or see the hardships their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members are having to go through having stepped up to raise them. And I know some just can’t make it work. This must be heartbreaking.

Children in kinship care have been forgotten about for too long. They need extra support to heal from trauma, learn well in school, and go on to achieve what they want to in adulthood. We must break down the barriers which deny kinship children the same opportunities as their peers. Kinship families need financial support to feed and clothe the children they are raising and allow them to give them the best possible start in life.

I’m standing with musician Professor Green (Stephen Manderson), actor Brian Cox CBE, actor-producer Jay Kontzle, interior designer and television presenter Micaela Sharp, kinship carers and #ValueOurLove campaign supporters, as I call on you as Secretary of State for Education to ensure all kinship families get the recognition and support they deserve.

Children in kinship care must not be forgotten. We must invest in support for kinship families and give children in kinship care the best possible start to life.

Yours

Poppy, 23
#ValueOurLove campaigner

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We’re stepping up the fight to get kinship carers and their children the support they urgently need. Can we email you about the #ValueOurLove campaign and how you can be a part of pushing kinship care up the political agenda?

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