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Kinship Local Offer
Our Kinship Local Offer sets out how we will help kinship carers, to give children and young people the best possible family experience whatever the child’s legal status, needs and circumstances.
Mental and physical wellbeing support
Below is a list of services that can provide you with mental health and physical wellbeing support.
Mental health support
- The Nest Southwark provides accessible wellbeing support for children, teenagers and all families, including kinship families. Their support includes practical parenting advice and parenting programmes to help make relationships stronger and happier. You can email thenest@groundwork.org.uk or call 020 8138 1805
- Southwark Wellbeing Hub provides free information and support to anyone in Southwark who wants to improve their mental health and wellbeing. They will help you to explore the large number of services available in the area. Everyone, including kinship carers, must be registered with a Southwark GP. You can email southwarkhub@together-uk.org or call 020 8138 1805
- Southwark’s clinical psychologists may be able to help if you have tried mental health support within the community and it has not been successful. One of their expert clinicians can provide time limited child and family interventions. Southwark kinship carers must have a referral before an assessment can be made. You can email us on sgoconnectedpersons@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 1762
- The special guardian and connected carers team can help you apply for the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) for up to £3,000 per child for therapy. Therapies include activities such as psychotherapy, life story work and short breaks designed to support wellbeing. Kinship children must have been previously in care of the local authority. You can email us on sgoconnectedpersons@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 1762
Physical wellbeing support
At certain times of the day, Southwark residents can use swimming and gym facilities, free of charge, in all council owned leisure centres.
Free times are:
- Friday: 6am to 10pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 5.30pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 9pm
- over-60s can take part in any silver sessions free
- disabled residents can use all leisure centres, free of charge, 7 days a week
You may also be entitled to a discounted concession membership. This is available for those who are:
- aged 60 or over
- aged 16 – 19
- a student in full time education
- employed by the emergency services (NHS, police or fire department) or armed forces
- in receipt of Universal Credit or full time Carers Allowance