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In late 2015 Wallsend Kinship Carers was set up under the auspices of Relative Experience which had itself been created by Family Lives Org and Grandparents Plus (now Kinship.Org). Concerned that they themselves might lose their funding they were anxious to build a network of groups across the Newcastle/Sunderland/ Durham area so that the identified Kinship Carers would get some kind of continuing support but sadly no longer the one to one befriending that had initially been the purpose of it's existence.
This support network is open to mostly grandparents caring permanently for their often damaged or traumatised grandchildren, other family members or even friends may be included. Meetings are held normally weekly on a Friday, weekly during school holidays. Members benefit from meeting other members in the same situation to share experience and give support. Often, speakers are invited with relevant subject matter. During school holidays entertainment or activities are provided for the children in their care. Sadly, their grandparents have limited financial support and find the high level of care required totally exhausting.
The Wallsend Group has been particularly active and along with their regular meetings there is almost constant fundraising going on. This needs to involve the wider public as amongst themselves there is very little spare cash. At major events there is normally around 30 children and some 20 carers involved.
To reach as wide an audience as possible WKC need to inform the local families of their existence and support. Recently they had teamed up with Wallsend Hub in the Forum to provide a regular presence. There is a need to produce local information along with guidance and advice on what other help there is available to Kinship Carers. We have a funded publicity campaign which has been sadly on hold this past year.
The group became a registered charity in June 2020. The Trustees meet in the region of four times a year. Sometimes via Zoom.
At the late in 2019 we collaborated with Northumberland University on a survey intending to reach all Kinship Carers in the NE and to find out what would help them the most with the care of the Kinship Children. We were not surprised when Holidays and Days out came up top of the list.
After several failed attempts we finally were able to publish our own website - www.wkc-uk.org entirely due to the expertise of Nathan Rowland of Sunderland Software City which was generously funded by VODA. We aim to provide information and useful links to other bodies able to assist Kinship Carers. We hope it will alert other KCs to the fact that we exist and are anxious to help anyone in our locality or even the wider community in need of help and support.
Although we had been generously gifted some free holidays, we learned that for our Kinship Children, long journeys were impracticable, in order to help these children adapt to new surroundings it is advisable to take many of their favourite toys. Not only toys but most of the food they need as the local restaurants/cafes are beyond their means. The build up to the holiday becomes a fractious and stressful time for the whole family - not a joyful event at all.
We decided to look for funding for a Seaside Caravan and this became our No 1 project. In March this year funded by the National Lottery we were able to buy a nearly new ABI Windermere 8 berth caravan on the Sandy Bay caravan park just south of Newbiggin on Sea. The news that this was going to happen lifted group morale enormously. Since then nearly all our families have been able to spend sometime in the caravan chiefly during school holidays. They have even managed a girly/granny weekend which was so uplifting that it may become at least an annual event.
The lottery suggested we have a Caravan Support Group whereby we provide travel expenses if necessary together with money for groceries and finally entertainment/activity grants. We aimed to find £3,000 to fund this, this year. But we are recognising that it may have to be increased next year. We were able to hire good cleaners with considerable experience which has proved invaluable. Although our secretary had some 20 years of caravan ownership on another park, which again has proved most advantageous.
After all that excitement we need to come back to local reality and consider our winter entertainment. Traditionally WKC have attended a local pantomime at Whitley Bay Playhouse. Although some of the older children may feel they are getting to be too old for pantomimes still they don't like to be left out. Carers particularly enjoy this event as for 2/3 hours they can relax whilst the children are enthralled.
Our group is normally about 50 made up of 30 children and 20 Carers - but that figure varies right up to the day, what with winter colds and in the past Covid outbreaks. We normally provide ice creams or refreshments for the whole group. We know that this entertainment will be in the region of £550/£600 - depending on the mix on the day.
We thank you for reading this far and for carrying our Kinship Carers in your heart.
This support network is open to mostly grandparents caring permanently for their often damaged or traumatised grandchildren, other family members or even friends may be included. Meetings are held normally weekly on a Friday, weekly during school holidays. Members benefit from meeting other members in the same situation to share experience and give support. Often, speakers are invited with relevant subject matter. During school holidays entertainment or activities are provided for the children in their care. Sadly, their grandparents have limited financial support and find the high level of care required totally exhausting.
The Wallsend Group has been particularly active and along with their regular meetings there is almost constant fundraising going on. This needs to involve the wider public as amongst themselves there is very little spare cash. At major events there is normally around 30 children and some 20 carers involved.
To reach as wide an audience as possible WKC need to inform the local families of their existence and support. Recently they had teamed up with Wallsend Hub in the Forum to provide a regular presence. There is a need to produce local information along with guidance and advice on what other help there is available to Kinship Carers. We have a funded publicity campaign which has been sadly on hold this past year.
The group became a registered charity in June 2020. The Trustees meet in the region of four times a year. Sometimes via Zoom.
At the late in 2019 we collaborated with Northumberland University on a survey intending to reach all Kinship Carers in the NE and to find out what would help them the most with the care of the Kinship Children. We were not surprised when Holidays and Days out came up top of the list.
After several failed attempts we finally were able to publish our own website - www.wkc-uk.org entirely due to the expertise of Nathan Rowland of Sunderland Software City which was generously funded by VODA. We aim to provide information and useful links to other bodies able to assist Kinship Carers. We hope it will alert other KCs to the fact that we exist and are anxious to help anyone in our locality or even the wider community in need of help and support.
Although we had been generously gifted some free holidays, we learned that for our Kinship Children, long journeys were impracticable, in order to help these children adapt to new surroundings it is advisable to take many of their favourite toys. Not only toys but most of the food they need as the local restaurants/cafes are beyond their means. The build up to the holiday becomes a fractious and stressful time for the whole family - not a joyful event at all.
We decided to look for funding for a Seaside Caravan and this became our No 1 project. In March this year funded by the National Lottery we were able to buy a nearly new ABI Windermere 8 berth caravan on the Sandy Bay caravan park just south of Newbiggin on Sea. The news that this was going to happen lifted group morale enormously. Since then nearly all our families have been able to spend sometime in the caravan chiefly during school holidays. They have even managed a girly/granny weekend which was so uplifting that it may become at least an annual event.
The lottery suggested we have a Caravan Support Group whereby we provide travel expenses if necessary together with money for groceries and finally entertainment/activity grants. We aimed to find £3,000 to fund this, this year. But we are recognising that it may have to be increased next year. We were able to hire good cleaners with considerable experience which has proved invaluable. Although our secretary had some 20 years of caravan ownership on another park, which again has proved most advantageous.
After all that excitement we need to come back to local reality and consider our winter entertainment. Traditionally WKC have attended a local pantomime at Whitley Bay Playhouse. Although some of the older children may feel they are getting to be too old for pantomimes still they don't like to be left out. Carers particularly enjoy this event as for 2/3 hours they can relax whilst the children are enthralled.
Our group is normally about 50 made up of 30 children and 20 Carers - but that figure varies right up to the day, what with winter colds and in the past Covid outbreaks. We normally provide ice creams or refreshments for the whole group. We know that this entertainment will be in the region of £550/£600 - depending on the mix on the day.
We thank you for reading this far and for carrying our Kinship Carers in your heart.
Our details
7 Ferndale Avenue, WALLSEND, Tyne And Wear NE28 7NA