How to contact us for advice
We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.
Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.
To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.
Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.
Our get help and advice section describes the processes that you and your family are likely to go through, so that you know what to expect. Our webchat service can help you find the information and advice on our website which will help you understand the law and your rights.
An analysis of the 2011 census (Wijedasa, 2017) found that sibling carers are more likely than grandparents and ‘other relatives to be raising two or more children in their household.
23%
of all children being raised in kinship care in England were being brought up by older siblings.
31%
of all children being raised in kinship care in Northern Ireland were being brought up by older siblings.
19%
of all children being raised in kinship care in Wales were being brought up by older siblings.
8%
of all children being raised in kinship care in Scotland were being brought up by older siblings.
Drawing on the stories of twelve sibling carers, as well as an internet survey and an international literature review, we made recommendations which aim to make sure that these undervalued carers and the children they are raising get the support they need.
Copies of this fascinating insight into the lives of sibling carers and the children they are raising are available from our on-line bookshop.
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