Actor Jay Kontzle to present BBC Radio 4 appeal for Kinship

Actor and Kinship Ambassador Jay Kontzle will present a BBC Radio 4 appeal on behalf of Kinship on Sunday 5 October and Thursday 9 October for Kinship Care Week (6 to 12 October).

The Emmerdale actor was raised by his grandparents after his mum died when he was just 4 years old and is passionate about Kinship and getting better support for kinship carers.

Jay will urge listeners to donate as he helps to raise funds to help us support kinship carers like his grandparents who provide loving and secure homes for the children they love, often with no support.

He says: “I’m so passionate about the charity as I’ve seen first-hand the amazing work it does to support kinship carers who are keeping thousands of children out of the care system.

“My grandparents sacrificed everything to raise me. They gave me all their love when everything else fell apart. I just wish Kinship existed when they stepped up to care for me.”

Jay will highlight how Kinship supports thousands of aunties, uncles, grandparents, siblings and family friends who step up in times of crisis to look after more than 141,000 kinship children in England and Wales.

And the father-of-3 will share the moving experience of Annie and Steve (not their real names) who had reached breaking point when Kinship came into their lives.

The young couple had just 24 hours to make the life-changing decision to take in their 2-year-old nephew who would otherwise have been placed in care.

The traumatised little boy had night terrors and angry outbursts after losing his parents and didn’t know how to deal with his feelings.

Listeners will hear how Annie had to give up her job to take care of him and the immense financial and emotional strain the couple experienced until Kinship came into their lives.

Kinship’s family worker Lisa helped them understand what support they could get, which allowed them to access long-term specialist therapy for their nephew, plus emergency grants for sensory toys, new clothes, school uniform, a wardrobe and a bed for him.

Lisa also put Annie and Steve in touch with other families like theirs and they grew their local network and felt less isolated and alone.

Their nephew is now 8 and is a much calmer, happier little boy who enjoys school, is well-settled and loves his kinship family.

Annie says this support kept their family together and credits Kinship with changing their lives.  She says: “I don’t know what would have happened to us without Kinship.”

There are thousands more kinship families like theirs who need support.

Listen in to the appeal at 7:54am and 21:25 on Sunday 5 October and at 15:27 on Thursday 9 October.

You will be able to listen on 92 to 95 FM, 103 to 105 FM or on your digital radio or on the BBC Sounds website.

You can also listen online any time from 8am on Sunday 5 October.

All contributions will help us support more kinship carers to care for their children so that their placements don’t break down.

Donate to our campaign now.