We’re delighted to invite you to our free Kinship roadshow in Newcastle. A place where you’ll meet other kinship carers just like you and where you can connect and learn together.
To get a sense of what to expect, watch our short video where we follow Kieron, a kinship carer to his 3 grandchildren, as he attends a Kinship Roadshow for the first time.
On this page
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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
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9.30am
Registration
Arrive and register – grab yourself a cuppa and meet the Kinship team.
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10am
A warm welcome
Get to know each other and learn more about the practicalities of being a kinship carer.
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10.45am to 11.45am
Living as a kinship carer – practical sessions to support you
These sessions will run at the same time, and you'll swap in the afternoon. We split into 2 groups, which makes it easier to chat with each other. The workshops will cover:
• Tips for managing contact with family members
• An introduction to trauma and attachment -
11.45am to 12pm
Morning break
Stretch your legs, have a hot drink and chat with other kinship carers.
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12pm to 12.30pm
Supporting your kinship child at school
In this introduction session, you’ll learn practical tips to help you work with schools and get the right support for your child.
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12.30pm to 1.15pm
Lunch
Enjoy lunch, chat with other kinship carers, and visit the information stalls to learn about other support available.
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1.15pm to 2.15pm
Living as a kinship carer – practical sessions to support you
These sessions will run at the same time, and you'll swap in the afternoon. We split into 2 groups, which makes it easier to chat with each other. The workshops will cover:
• Tips for managing contact with family members
• An introduction to trauma and attachment -
2.15pm
Leaving as friends
Find out about other support available from Kinship.
-
2.30pm
Close
The team will be around until 3pm to chat.
About the venue
Our Kinship Roadshow Newcastle takes place at The County Hotel, Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DF.
Onsite parking is reserved for hotel residents only.
Alternative parking can be found across the street at Newcastle Central Station or 5-minutes away at Times Square Car Park.
We encourage public transport where possible, but if you’re driving, Times Square Car Park is the most affordable option. Prices start at £6.90 for 5 hours or £8.40 for 10 hours.
Newcastle 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 closest bus stops are Central Station Neville Street and Central Station Westgate Road.
You can find bus information and plan your journey on the Nexus website.
The venue is located directly across the road from Newcastle Central Station. Exit the station on Neville Street / Bewick Street and it’s just a minute-walk to the hotel.
To plan your journey and buy train tickets, visit National Rail or Trainline.
The closest Metro stop is Central Station (Yellow and Green Lines), which is a 4-minute walk from the venue.
You can find Metro information and plan your journey on the Nexus website.
Accessibility
The venue is fully 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.
Who will be there?
Our roadshows offer a welcoming, supportive space for kinship carers to meet and connect. Many of our staff and facilitators are also kinship carers themselves. This event is open to 70 kinship carers.
Local organisations that support kinship carers will be at our marketplace and available for you to speak with throughout the day. Local authorities will not be in attendance.
The event is organised for you to join us from 9.30am to 2.30pm. We hope you can stay the whole time to attend the different workshops, meet other kinship carers and visit the marketplace. However, we understand that some of you may need to arrive later or leave early. Please let us know at registration if you can only stay for part of the day.
Unfortunately, we ask that children do not attend this event.
What happens if you need to cancel your place?
We understand that life gets in the way sometimes, so if you need to cancel your place please do try and let us know as soon as possible.
You’ll be able to do this through:
- the email confirmation you received when you first booked
- or by filling out our training and support enquiries and complaints form
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
If you have any questions or concerns about this or any other event, our team can help. Just fill in our training and support enquiries and complaints form and someone will get back to you.
Did you know we run workshops and events for kinship carers all over England? Browse our upcoming workshops and events now.
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