Category Archives: kinship carer

Dearne MP’s pledge to support carers

A few days ago I welcomed two women from the Dearne to Westminster.

They were among 50 ‘kinship’ carers who had come to talk to MPs – grandparents and other relatives who raise children who can no longer live with their parents.

As Julie, from Goldthorpe, and Karen, from Wath, told me, they just wanted to keep the children in the family.

They stepped in because they loved the child and wanted to do the right thing – but suddenly taking on a full-time caring role in your 50s or 60s can come at a high price.

Bedroom tax campaigner takes protest to Westminster

Pembrokeshire bedroom tax campaigner takes protest to Westminster

 Campaign: Paul Rutherford outside the Houses of Parliament.

BEDROOM tax campaigner Paul Rutherford has taken his case from Pembrokeshire to Westminster.

The 56-year-old grandfather and his wife Sue provide round-the-clock care for their profoundly-disabled grandson, Warren, aged 13.

Their case, first highlighted in the Western Telegraph, has now been put forward by the Child Poverty Action Group as the very first judicial review challenge of the discretionary housing payment – known as the bedroom tax – on behalf of children who need overnight care.

Although the Rutherfords, who live in Clynderwen, have been successful in an appeal to Pembrokeshire County Council over the ‘spare’ bedroom in their housing association bungalow, Mr Rutherford has vowed to keep on campaigning against what he says is the injustice of the levy.

‘A lot of carers are finding it hard to pay bills’

ELEANOR Brownlie felt she had no choice but to take her granddaughter into her care after the then one-year-old’s parents suffered personal problems through addictions.

SUPPORT PLEA: Eleanor Brownlie, who has looked after her granddaughter for 16 years, believes carers like herself are undervalued. Picture: Colin Mearns

SUPPORT PLEA: Eleanor Brownlie, who has looked after her granddaughter for 16 years, believes carers like herself are undervalued. Picture: Colin Mearns

The 72-year-old from Glasgow, who has looked after her granddaughter for 16 years, said: “If I hadn’t stepped in she would have gone into the system and been pushed from pillar to post.”

She said she believes the work of kinship carers across the country is undervalued and not recognised by the authorities, who would otherwise have to pick up the bill for looking after vulnerable children.