Kinship carers’ experiences
Find out what life is like for a range of Kinship carers in Liverpool. We met them at Kinship Carers Liverpool and found out more about the support the group gives them.
Find out what life is like for a range of Kinship carers in Liverpool. We met them at Kinship Carers Liverpool and found out more about the support the group gives them.
Tina
Tina has been a Kinship carer for around three years. She first heard about Kinship Carers Liverpool by chance, when someone asked if she knew about kinship support and gave her the phone number. She decided to call and says that moment changed everything. Before finding the group, she felt unsure how to manage her granddaughter's needs and how to navigate the many systems involved.
From her first visit, Tina felt welcomed and supported. She says the group has brought out strengths in her that she never realised she had. Through regular support sessions and training, she has gained confidence, learned new skills and discovered how to look after both her granddaughter and herself. She values meeting other carers who understand her situation and says the activities and family days have helped her granddaughter make friends and feel less alone.
Tina says the group has become her 'little oasis' each week, giving her space, reassurance and a sense of belonging. She feels more confident, more informed and more able to give her granddaughter a safe, happy and stable life.
Cathy
Cathy became a kinship carer nearly three years ago after returning to Liverpool from Canada with very little and in urgent need of support for her grandchildren.
Joining the Kinship support group made an immediate difference. Cathy says she felt welcomed, understood and part of a family from day one. Through the group she received emotional support, practical help, Christmas gifts for the children, and guidance from visiting speakers and professionals.
She has completed courses such as aces (adverse childhood experiences) and nurturing, which helped her understand both her grandchildren’s needs and her own wellbeing. she credits the group with transforming her confidence, helping her settle back into liverpool, and giving her the tools to support her grandchildren through school, routines and the challenges of growing up.
Nicky
Nicky became a Kinship carer when her grandson was six months old. Overnight she lost her childminding business and suddenly found herself caring for a baby with little support. By the time he was seven, she was struggling and reached out to Family First, who told her about Kinship Carers Liverpool. She went along to a coffee morning and describes it as a lifeline. Meeting other carers who understood what she was going through made her feel less alone, and the advice and courses helped her build confidence.
Through the support group, Nicky discovered new interests. She completed a mindfulness course, which led her to train as a complementary therapist and start her own small business. Nicky has now worked for Kinship for four years, supporting families at crisis point and running coffee mornings across the city.
Looking back, Nicky says she feels proud of how far she has come. She loves her work, enjoys seeing carers grow in confidence, and is passionate about helping families get the support they need. She believes that self care and community support are key to helping both carers and children thrive.
Margaret
Margaret has been a Kinship carer since 2000, stepping in to care for her grandchildren when they were at risk of going into care. She found Kinship Carers Liverpool at a youth event her grandson was attending.
She went along to a session and says she felt welcomed straight away. Meeting other carers helped her realise she wasn't alone, and the group gave her confidence, friendship and practical advice. Through guest speakers, she learned more about her grandson's behaviour and was able to get him assessed and diagnosed with autism — something she would never have known how to pursue on her own.
Although her grandchildren are now grown, Margaret still attends the group and volunteers her time. She has become a trustee, helps with charity nights and supports pamper days for other carers. She says the support changed her life, built her confidence and helped her family thrive.