Kinship carers step up in times of crisis – it’s time we stood up for them

The lives of people raising the children of family members are made even harder by a lack of support in the workplace – with many forced to quit their careers and go on benefits. Lauren Crosby Medlicott hears from those let down by an ‘unfair’ system

Kinship carer Katie with her niece (Kinship)

When Natalie had the call asking her to take care of her 10-week-old nephew in August 2022, as his parents were no longer able to look after him, she had just been offered a two-year contract working at a school as a teaching assistant.

“I explained to the school about my nephew and although they were very empathetic, they were unable to offer me any paid leave,” she told The Independent.

Natalie went into panic mode.