We’re delighted to invite you to our free Kinship roadshow in Birmingham. A place where you’ll meet other kinship carers just like you and where you can connect and learn together.
On this page
Click on the link below to take you to the section you'd like to read:
At Kinship, we know how much kinship carers do each day to support and raise children you love. We’re here to help you make connections with other kinship carers and feel more confident to deal with what comes your way.
Our roadshows help you connect with others and get vital information on how to navigate the system and make choices that work for you, so you can get the support your children need and deserve.
This roadshow is open to all kinship carers at any stage of their kinship journey.
A kinship carer is someone who steps in to raise a child when their parents can’t. They’re usually grandparents, aunts or uncles, brothers or sisters and sometimes friends.
The event is facilitated by our Kinship team, which includes kinship carers. There will be opportunities to share experiences, in small groups, but there is no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. Just do whatever you’re comfortable with. And if you need to, there will also be plenty of space to take some time out.
What happens on the day
-
9.30am
Registration
Arrive and register – grab yourself a cuppa and meet the Kinship team.
-
10am
A warm welcome
Get to know each other and learn more about the practicalities of being a kinship carer.
-
10.45am to 11.45am
Living as a kinship carer – practical sessions to support you
These sessions will take place at the same time and you’ll swap in the afternoon. This keeps the sessions smaller so it easier to chat with each other. The sessions will cover: (1) tips for managing contact with family members; and (2) an introduction to trauma and attachment.
-
12.00 to 12.30pm
Supporting your kinship child at school
Introduction: Practical tools and tips to navigate schools and what support you should ask for.
-
12.30pm to 1.15pm
Lunch and informal marketplace
Have a delicious lunch, chat with others, get some fresh air and browse our informal marketplace where you can meet organisations who can support you in your local area.
-
1.15pm to 2.15pm
Living as a kinship carer – practical sessions to support you
These sessions will take place at the same time and and you’ll go to the one you didn’t attend in the morning: (1) tips for managing contact with family members; and (2) an introduction to trauma and attachment.
-
2.15pm
Leaving as friends
Where else to get support and what’s next.
-
2:30pm
Close
About the venue
Our Kinship Roadshow Birmingham takes place at Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Burlington Arcade, 126 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4JQ. The venue is in the city centre and is easily accessible by public transport. For details on how to get to the venue, visit the Macdonald Burlington Hotel website.
The venue is located near the A38M off M6 J6. The hotel doesn’t have a car park, but there are two nearby public car parks (Grand Central Car Park and B4 Car Park) where you can park at a discounted rate. You can find more details about parking on the Macdonald Burlington Hotel website.
Birmingham is in a clean air zone. There is information about driving in clean air zones and paying for your vehicle on the GOV.UK website.
The venue is easy to get to by bus. To plan your journey, visit National Express West Midlands.
The closest train station is Birmingham New Street, just a minute’s walk from the venue. Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill are also close by. To plan your journey and buy train tickets, visit National Rail or Trainline.
For more details about Birmingham New Street station and its location, visit Birmingham New Street Station on National Rail.
The nearest Metro station is Grand Central. For more information or to buy your tickets, visit West Midlands Metro.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible with step-free access. If you have any additional accessibility needs, you will be asked about this in our booking form. Please let us know so we can make this event as comfortable as possible for you.
Read more about the accessibility of the Macdonald Burlington Hotel on Euan’s Guide.
Who will be there
Our roadshows are a warm, supportive space to meet and connect with other kinship carers. Many Kinship staff are also kinship carers.
This event is open to up to 60 kinship carers.
Local organisations who provide support for kinship carers will be at our marketplace, available for you to chat to throughout the day. Local authorities will not be in attendance.
The event is designed to be for the full day to give kinship carers the opportunity to attend the different workshops, meet other kinship carers and visit the marketplace.
Unfortunately, we ask that children do not attend this event.
Book your space
When you book your free place, we’ll ask you about your experience as a carer, your gender, age, ethnicity and other demographic information. This helps us make sure that the services and experiences we offer are as inclusive as possible and that our advice is relevant to your locality.
We will also ask about your accessibility needs. This is to ensure that you have a comfortable experience on the day.
Get in touch
Our Kinship team, can answer any questions you might have about the roadshow. Please email us at roadshow@kinship.org.uk.
We have other roadshows planned across England. To find out where and when they will be, keep an eye on our events page as we update it with more events or email us at roadshow@kinship.org.uk.
Join our community
Sign up for emails to keep up to date with the information that’s important to you, from support and advice for kinship carers, to our latest news, events and campaigns.