Become a kinship carer volunteer

Join a powerful community of volunteer kinship carers supporting other kinship carers by setting up support groups, or chatting on the phone.

Join the best volunteering community – kinship carers supporting kinship carers

Our kinship volunteers are a key part of Kinship, and central to delivering our services and support to all kinship carers.  Without our kinship carer volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do. They really understand how important it is to have support from other people like them.

Our kinship carer volunteers are a really positive part of our charity, and we appreciate the value they bring to Kinship through their diverse skills and lived experience.

As a kinship carer volunteer, the time you give really matters, and if you’d like to help and make a difference to other kinship carers and their families, we’d love to hear from you.

Volunteers are a diverse group of people, and we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities (you do need to be over the age of 18).

We welcome and actively encourage volunteers who are or have experience as a kinship carer.

We will promote opportunities for specific volunteer roles that are inclusive, flexible, fun, meaningful, as well as enjoyable.

We’re looking for passionate kinship carers who would love to support other kinship carers through:

setting up kinship peer support groups
the Kinship Someone Like Me telephone service
supporting our Advice and Information service

It takes five minutes to sign up to have an informal chat with one of our Kinship team.

"Hopefully we can make it better for the rest of the kinship carers coming up and joining us, making it easier for them to understand we're all together."

A kinship carer, on setting up and running a group

Why volunteer?

There’s lots of reasons to get become a kinship carer volunteer:

you’ll meet new people, build new relationships and connections
to help out other kinship carers, especially if you understand what they’re going through
create positive change in someone’s life and their kinship family

But you also need to make sure you’re in the right place now to volunteer. Because we know it’s a big commitment.

We know how rewarding it is to be a kinship carer. And we also know how difficult it can be, supporting your family and finding time to support others.

There’s no pressure to volunteer now. Take your time, read a bit more and sign up for more information and an informal chat using our expression of interest form.

Four simple steps to becoming a kinship peer volunteer:

four simple steps to becoming kinship peer volunteer

Give your time, commitment and support – find friendship and connection

Set up a kinship peer support group

Peer support groups create safe spaces for kinship carers to come together, learn from each other and share experiences. We’ll help you set up a group.

Find out more

Become a Someone Like Me volunteer

If you can give at least eight hours a month to chat we’d love to hear from you. You’ll get free training and support.

Someone Like Me role

Volunteer supporting other kinship carers

Become an Advice and Information Service Volunteer

If you can give at least two hours a month to support our Advice Team with admin duties, please get in touch.

Advice and Information Volunteer role

Not a kinship carer but want to volunteer?

We’re interested in hearing from people who aren’t kinship carers but want to use their skills to support kinship families in England and Wales. Have an informal chat with our team.

Email us

Will you ask the Government to value your love?

We’re calling on the Government to value the love of kinship carers and take urgent action to improve support available for kinship families.

Take action today