Grandmother to protest plight of kinship carers

An Eastbourne grandmother is to march to the Treasury to highlight the plight of kinship carers.

These are people who provide a home for a relative or friend's child when their parents are not able to.

Wendy Turner, 71, who cares for her grandchildren Callum and Willow, said she was part of a "forgotten army" struggling to cope financially as a result of attempting to keep vulnerable children out of the care system.

The Department for Education (DfE) said the government was to introduce a new law to ensure councils set out clear support for carers.

Ms Turner took in Callum when he was two and Willow when she was a newborn after their parents were unable to look after them.

The grandmother said she was taking part in the march on Wednesday to ask for better funding.

"It's a strain on the finances. And it's a strain on everything, really," she said.

"All we're asking for is a basic allowance in line with what a foster carer would get to feed and clothe the child."

It is estimated there are more than 130,000 children in England living in kinship care.

Rhiannon Clapperton, of the charity Kinship, said the carers were often "stepping in at a real time of crisis".

A DfE spokesperson said kinship care had been overlooked for too long.

"We've inherited a children's social care system in need of wholesale reform," they said.

"We're determined to change that and have already announced £40m to trial a financial allowance for kinship carers in 10 local authorities."

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