Last year, the Government launched the first ever kinship care strategy and Ed McGuinness met with Kinship Carers in Surrey Heath to find out about the challenges and struggles faced and how the next Government can build on this strategy.
Kinship care is where a family relative or close friend steps up to care for a child when their parents aren’t able to. Kinship carers, including grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and other family members and friends, are raising more than 162,000 children in England and Wales – more than double the number in foster care. Data released by national charity Kinship as part of the campaign estimates that there are 215 children in kinship care living in Surrey Heath.
Commenting, Cllr Mark Gordon said:
"It was great to put politics to one side this morning and spend time with both Ed McGuinness and Alasdair Pinkerton and explaining to them the challenges faced by Kinship carers in Surrey Heath and all over the country, and the struggles we all face. Big thanks to Stuart Black for setting this up."
Speaking on the meeting, Ed said:
"Often in elections there is division - but it was superb to get together with Kinship Carers, alongside Al, to learn about their extraordinary work, love, kindness and friendship which keeps their families together and strong. Wonderful and thanks for arranging."
Pictured, Ed McGuinness alongside Kinship Carers in Surrey Heath
