Big Hearts Kick Off Kinship Care Week with FM Visit
To mark the start of the Scotland’s National Kinship Care Week for 2023 Big Hearts were delighted to host our Annual Big Breakfast for Kinship Carers and were thrilled to joined by a very special guest in Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The First Minister joined over 30 kinship carers in The Shed at Tynecastle Park as we highlighted the range of excellent support available to all kinship families here at Big Hearts on a weekly basis while promoting the national service for carers.
Kinship Care week celebrates the role of extended family or friends who care for children when they cannot remain with their birth parents.
Big Hearts’ Kinship Care programme was launched in 2015 and offers a range of support for young people and their carers, including after school clubs, coffee mornings, and wellbeing advice. This service is available to all Kinship Families whether in formal or informal arrangements.
The First Minister said:
“We owe kinship carers an enormous debt of gratitude for the role they play in providing loving and secure homes for children and young people, and it’s vital they receive every penny of support they’re entitled to.
“In line with our commitment to tackling child poverty, we increased the Scottish Child Payment to £25 a week per eligible child last year, and expanded the eligibility criteria to include more kinship carers. We want to ensure everyone gets the financial support they are entitled to, so I’d encourage carers to check whether they’re entitled to receive the Scottish Child Payment and any other Scottish Government benefits.
“In addition to the fantastic support provided by charities like Big Hearts, there are a range of events for kinship carers taking place across the country this week, and free advice and guidance is also available from the Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland website.”
Craig Wilson, Big Hearts’ General Manager said:
“It was fantastic to welcome Scotland’s First Minister to Tynecastle Park for the start of National Kinship Care Week. We are so proud to work with so many amazing kinship care families and for many years we’ve strived to raise the profile of kinship carers and highlight the support they can and should receive.
“There’s no doubt that today adds to that and we want kinship carers to know there is always a warm and welcoming place for them here at Big Hearts.”
For more information on Big Hearts Kinship Care Programme please visit: http://www.bighearts.org.uk/programmes/kinship-care-programme/ or contact Big Hearts Family Support Officer directly on Sandra.Henderson@bighearts.org.uk
Big Hearts’ Kinship Care programme is currently funded by: The City of Edinburgh Council, The National Lottery Community Fund and The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust.