Young people raised in kinship care influencing change

A group of brilliant, talented young people raised in kinship care met with MPs and Peers in Parliament last week. They shared their stories and what they would like to see change.

Family Rights Group facilitated the session as part of our role coordinating the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care This was one of our favourite sessions to organise!

The young people shared their frustration at repeatedly having to tell their story and explain their kinship care arrangement to schools and other professionals. They spoke about finding it hard to get the help they needed in school, including with special educational needs and disabilities. Some were worried about not being able to keep in touch with their siblings when living in different homes.

A lack of opportunities for young people in kinship care to meet with others in the same boat, and to influence change, was discussed. Liverpool is one of the few places with an established kinship youth group, led by Kinship Carers Liverpool. Too few young people in kinship have that opportunity.

Kyle, Youth Coordinator at Families in Harmony and raised by his grandmother Sharon McPherson, shared some reflections from his work mentoring young Black boys in kinship care.

MP and Peers on the APPG committed to raising the issues with Government and in their local areas. They are particularly keen to ensure that local authorities are developing their kinship local offer with young people and families.

Gareth Snell MP – one of several MPs on the Group also raised in kinship care – reflected on his experience and how the onus should not be on young people to explain their situation with every transition.

We were also joined by National Kinship Care Ambassador Jahnine Davis who updated on her work in Government, including to bring young people’s experiences to the forefront.

We will be working with the Group to facilitate more opportunities for young people to influence change.

Thank you to Isaac, Jamie, Mollie, Rosa, Maggie, Pauline and Laura, who travelled from Liverpool for the session, and to Kyle and Sharon, for giving their time and sharing their experience.

A full write up from the session will be available soon on the APPG’s website.