Kinship Compass

Information, services and support near Wokingham Borough Council

On this page

Select a link below to take you to the section you'd like to read:

  1. Support groups near you
  2. Workshops and events near you
  3. Support from your local authority
  4. Kinship local offer
  5. Your SEND or ALN local offer
  6. Your virtual school information
  7. Your nearest free legal clinic
  8. Foodbanks near you
  9. Adoption and special guardianship support fund

We try and keep these resources up to date, if you spot something which needs updating do let us know.

  • 285In Wokingham, it is estimated that there are 285* kinship carers. You are not alone, and these services are there to support you.

    * Office for National Statistics - 2021 Census

Support groups near you (3)

Whether it’s a shared cup of tea, or a shoulder to cry on, support groups create an invaluable space to connect, learn and share with others in a similar situation.

There are over 150 support groups in England, below is your nearest in-person group. We also offer online peer support groups, find out more about these on our support group page. If there isn’t a group near you, and you’d like to set one up, find out how we can support you.

Lets Get Creative for kinship families

South East England
In person

Lets Get Creative is led by Parenting Special Children and is for all kinship carers in Berkshire, plus their children aged 5 to 12. Children attend workshops with music and play therapists, who have training and experience in attachment and therapeutic arts. Carers are required to stay for the duration of the session in the room next door for an informal support group.

View Lets Get Creative for kinship families

Family Support Group

South East England
In person

This group is led by Family Support Group, a registered charity run by kinship carers. The group is open to all kinship carers and foster carers (kinship or otherwise) in Frimley and the surrounding areas. Through the support groups, kinship carers and foster carers (kinship or otherwise) can feel listened to, get local advice, and realise that they are not alone. Visit their website for more information about Family Support Group.

View Family Support Group

View other support groups near you

View all support groups

Workshops and events near you

Unfortunately, there are no in-person events near you at the moment. However, we have online workshops on a range of topics, from an introduction to kinship care to managing contact.

We add events throughout the year, check our events regularly for updates or join our community to keep up to date.

View all workshops and events

Support from your local authority

Your local authority children's services may work with you and your family depending on the type of kinship care arrangement you have. We've shared some of the key details of support available in Wokingham Borough Council, which you may need as you navigate your journey.

Family Placement Team

You can find more about the support available for children, young people and families on the Wokingham Borough Council website.

If this information is incorrect, please contact us.

Your kinship local offer

Each local authority must publish a kinship local offer detailing the support available to kinship families in that area. It should also cover their approach to meeting the needs of children in kinship care arrangements. This used to be called a family and friends care policy. Not all local authorities have published their local offer yet, so some may still refer to a family and friends care policy.

Read the kinship local offer in Wokingham Borough Council.

Your SEND or ALN local offer

All local authorities must publish and maintain a SEND or ALN local offer. This is a document or set of documents outlining the support available in that area for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or additional learning needs (ALN).

Read the SEND local offer for Wokingham Borough Council.

Your virtual school

Each local authority has a virtual school. The role of the virtual school is to give information to parents and schools about the needs and educational progress of children who are looked after, previously looked or who have a social worker. The service ensures these children are given the best education and have the best educational outcomes.

They can provide advice to individual kinship carers of children who are subject to special guardianship orders or child arrangement orders, and schools where they have a query and permission has been given.

Wokingham Virtual School

Find out more about how virtual schools should work with you as a kinship carer.

Other services

Kinship carers have told us about other support services that might be helpful in their local community.

Legal clinics can offer free advice and information usually in the form of a 30 to 60 minute appointment. Eligibility to use a clinic can depend on geographic location and the type of advice you’re looking for. Find out more about each legal clinic listed by visiting their website.

Hamilton Law Advice Trust (Reading)

Specialist areas: Charity, Child, Civil Litigation, Consumer, Contract, Data protection, Debt and insolvency, Employment, Family, Wills and probate, Other

Opening times: Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm

Who can access: People who need it the most, rather than clients who are able to use their own means to pay for legal advice.

For other sources of legal support, read our page on legal help for kinship carers.

Your nearest foodbank

Food banks provide emergency food and support to people and families facing hardship. Your nearest foodbanks are listed below.

Wokingham

Crowthorne

  • Vineyard Church Centre 25 Wellington Business Park Duke's Ride Crowthorne RG45 6LS
  • Phone: 01344780087
  • Visit Crowthorne website

Data supplied by Give Food.

Adoption and special guardianship support fund

Did you know you might be eligible for support from the adoption and special guardianship support fund? The fund can help you pay for essential therapeutic services, such as creative therapies, life story work, family therapy and therapeutic short breaks.

Find out more about the adoption and special guardianship support fund

Information and advice

Share