Sibling kinship carer and volunteer Kinship peer support group leader

Just under a year ago I became a kinship carer to my ten-year-old sister.

I am about to become a volunteer Kinship peer support group leader for two groups – one for sibling kinship carers online and one for kinship carers in my local area of Solihull. I want to do this role because I really enjoy listening to people and collaborating with kinship carers working through various challenges.

I’m already part of my Kinship local peer support group which is currently run by a Kinship staff member, and I’m about to take over leading the group. I’m also quite naturally a chatty person and a former social worker, so moving into this role seemed like a logical step. I really want to continue to work in some capacity that uses the skills from my degree. I’m also neurodiverse so I can empathise with some kinship carers who might be a little nervous to speak up.

Having attended other online groups I have been supported by both staff and fellow kinship carers to step up into this role. They very kindly call me a ‘superwoman’. Some people might find it a bit baffling that I’m taking this on at a young age but I feel my life experience has prepared me for this: I am kinship care experienced; I moved into a house by myself at 16 years old; and I moved to another city miles away to study at 18 years old. Life has made me quite naturally resilient and confident. Kinship staff are always there to help too if needed – they always ask they right questions and think ahead of any issues you might have.

I am starting the online sibling group as I have found complexities in being a sibling kinship carer that do not tend to arise in other arrangements. I want to create a space for siblings to speak to each other and build support networks. There is often strength in numbers, I know I felt lost and alone, it does not need to be that way.

I’d recommend anybody thinking about volunteering to just give it a go. You just need to have a conversation and if it’s not for you then that’s fine. No matter what, we need peer support group leaders. We need people to lead who understand what it’s like to be a sibling kinship carer or whatever it is you are who are willing to support others.

It makes you feel amazing when other kinship carers recognise what you’re doing. I know that if I and other leaders weren’t there then groups would struggle to run without you. Being part of the support group fills my cup because you don’t just share sad stories, you share happy ones too. You could say if helps me gather up all my spoons again, ready to face the rest of the week and everything that will bring.