As this year’s Kinship Care Week (13-17 March) gets underway, Martin Whitfield MSP has thanked kinship carers across the South Scotland region for the incredible role they undertake.

Kinship Care Week aims to increase understanding and recognition of the role of Kinship Carers and the challenges they often face, but importantly, it is also an opportunity to celebrate kinship carers for the amazing contribution they make to raising children.

The theme of the week this year is “Connecting Kinship Carers” and the Kinship Care Advisory Service Scotland (KCASS) is providing opportunities both online and in person for kinship carers to meet and discuss the important topics most relevant for their situations.

Speaking about the week, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“I welcome Kinship Carers Week and its objective of increasing understanding and recognition of the vitally important role of kinship carers and the challenges that they often face.

“The week’s theme this year is Connecting Kinship Carers in recognition of the isolation that many often feel while trying to provide a stable home life to allow children to grow and develop in a safe environment and within their existing family network.

“Kinship carers undertake amazing work, often under challenging circumstances, and without the level of support other families are entitled to, and I thank all of them in the South Scotland region and the Kinship Care Advisory Service Scotland for the support it provides.”

Kinship carers can find out more about the week and the support available from KCASS at https://kinship.scot, by calling its helpline on 0808 800 0006 or emailing advice@kinshipscot.org.