Kinship Carers in Glasgow develop reference group with Social Work

FOLLOWING regular engagement with Kinship Carers from across Glasgow and with the Poverty Truth Commission, David Crawford – Director of Social Services for Glasgow – has set up a quarterly reference group on Kinship Care to be run by Kinship Carers themselves.

In the group carers will set the agenda, raising specific issues they see as a priority and giving feedback on Social Work services and initiatives. The Poverty TruthCommission has been guided by the slogan of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee – Nothing About Us, Without Us, is For Us – and we assert that poverty will never be eradicated until the real experts, people in poverty, are put at the heart of the process. We applaud this commitment and look forward to hearing more about it as it develops.

Glasgow's Social Work department also committed to funding the city's four Kinship support groups – crucial spaces organised by carers where they can share their struggles, arrange respite trips and campaign for the support their kids desperately need. At the same time Glasgow City Council has also raised its payment to Kinship Carers to £50/week, a £10 increase. Though this still leaves Glasgow as one of the lowest paying councils in Scotland we welcome the raise which will have a real impact for vulnerable children in Kinship Care.