Kilmarnock Kinship Carers receive £20,000 funding boost on tenth anniversary

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An East Ayrshire group is celebrating after marking its 10th anniversary by securing vital funding from the National Lottery Fund.Kilmarnock Kinship Carers have received £20,000 that allows it to secure a larger space at CentreStage in the town.

The grant will help cover the full lease at the community hub, which has become a safe space for kindship carers and children.The move has been made possible through the combined efforts of the National Lottery Fund, East Ayrshire Council, and CentreStage.The facility, officially unveiled on the group’s 10th anniversary, offers a games room, chill room, playroom, meeting room, and their own kitchen.

The additional space will enable the group to expand their services, providing even more tailored support for kinship families across East Ayrshire and beyond.The group was founded 10 years ago by Nancy Kershaw, who has been a dedicated kinship carer for the past 18 years.

Her passion for supporting other kinship carers arose from the lack of available resources for those caring for children who cannot live with their birth parents.Over the years, Nancy and her team have created a supportive community, helping kinship families navigate the challenges they face by connecting them to essential services and support agencies.Reflecting on this new chapter, Nancy said: “We look forward to new beginnings and extending our support to kinship carers in the wider community.“If you have full-time care of other family members who cannot live with their birth parents for any reason, please come and join us and have a chat with others in similar situations.”The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the