Three years ago Philippa and her husband took in his two baby grandchildren after child protection concerns meant they could not live with their parents. “Social services just dumped the children and ran,” says Philippa*. “No support, no advice. They didn’t even leave us a number.”
The couple became kinship carers overnight and their life was turned upside down. Both changed their hours to work part-time and their finances took a huge hit.
The couple are “absolutely broke” and exhausted, says Philippa, who admits they have wondered whether they can keep on caring for the children. “We would never really give them up because we love them so much and they love us,” she says. “But we have talked about it because we are constantly at breaking point.”
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