Special Guardianship Support Groups
SGO & Support Groups
What is a Support Group?
Support groups consist of others with a shared experience coming together to share stories, support each other, and exchange advice and ways of coping.
Why Do Special Guardians need support groups?
Support Groups are a good way to meet other special guardianship carers and help to reduce loneliness and isolation.
One of the barriers for prospective Special Guardians is that they do not want anyone to know what is going in their family and find themselves isolated at a time when they need to talk the most.
Caring for one’s own family is not easy at times; it is good to talk to others who have a shared commonality.
As Special Guardianship continues to grow, it is likely that there is someone who lives on your road or attends the same school as the child you care for, you can gain valuable support from each other.
Special guardianship support is valuable to know you are not alone by connecting with others going through what you are going through will help you in your special guardianship journey.
SGO Support groups are important at every stage of the special guardianship journey.
The time when you need support is often during the assessment when you are muddling through paperwork, meetings and visits, it is at this point it would be great to stop and hear the experiences of others and know what to expect. It’s never too early to join a special guardianship support group.
Where can special guardians find out about attending a support group?
Also, check with your Local Authority as this area is growing rapidly and many are starting up specialised SGO teams and will run support groups in your local area.
Special Guardianship Support Groups
You will find below a list of the Special Guardian Support Groups that are currently known. Please contact the group before you attend to confirm the details.
We will keep adding to this list new special guardianship support groups.
If you know of a Special Guardianship Support Group, that is not listed below, then drop us a line so we can add the details to this site.
Barnet Special Guardians Group
Hackney Special Guardians Support Group
Haringey & Enfield Special Guardians Support Group
Kinship and SGO Support Group Castleford
Kingston Upon Thames Support Groups –
Special Guardian’s coffee morning
Join us for a coffee every third Tuesday of the month starting:
Tuesday 19 September 2023,
10am to 12pm
Twickenham Civic Centre, 44 Richmond Road,
Twickenham TW1 3BZ
It’s an informal space for you to meet other special
guardians and to discuss any worries you may have in
areas such as trauma informed parenting strategies,
contact issues, life story work and training and
learning opportunities.
No need to book, but if you have any allergies or access
needs that we need to be aware of, please let us know by
email, specialguardianship.duty@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Pembrokeshire Support Group –
Coffee Meet the 1st Monday of every month at Coffee No1 in Vincent Davies, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire (excluding school holidays and bank holidays).
Walk&Talk 3rd Wednesday of every month at various locations throughout Pembrokeshire, the location is confirmed via email 2 weeks before (excluding school holidays and bank holidays)
Please email SGO Duty Email; SGOteam@pembrokeshire.gov.uk to be added to their mailing list to receive Walk & Talk updates, training and support opportunities, or if you require any advice and support.
Richmond Upon Thames
Special Guardian’s coffee morning
Join us for a coffee every third Tuesday of the month starting:
Tuesday 19 September 2023,
10am to 12pm
Twickenham Civic Centre, 44 Richmond Road,
Twickenham TW1 3BZ
It’s an informal space for you to meet other special
guardians and to discuss any worries you may have in
areas such as trauma informed parenting strategies,
contact issues, life story work and training and
learning opportunities.
No need to book, but if you have any allergies or access
needs that we need to be aware of, please let us know by
email, specialguardianship.duty@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Sheffield SGO and Kinship Care Support Group
Special Guardians Coffee and Catch-up Group – Basildon
Special Guardians Coffee and Catch-up Group – Braintree
Special Guardians Coffee and Catch-up Group – Canvey
Special Guardians Coffee and Catch-up Group – Clacton
If you cannot see a support group running near you, please also check at Kinship.org/Support Groups.
Or maybe try an online support group with KinshipCarersUK
SGO carers can also access support groups at Kinship.org. Kinship.org support groups will have carers caring for children under other orders as well but there is a wider list of groups and you may find one close to you.
If you can’t find a support group near you, or are unable to attend, but would like to connect with other carers, then Kinship.org have a service called Someone Like Me service which is a telephone peer support service.
Family Rights Group also has a list of kinship groups around the UK
Special Guardians can also get online support
There are also several Facebook Groups as shown below which you can apply to join. Just search for them on Facebook and apply to join, you will be asked some details about yourself.
Special Guardianship Order Process Support Help & Advice
Special Guardianship Chat and Support UK
Special Guardianship Order Parents SGO
Special Guardianship Orders
Special Guardianship Order also known as SGO
Special Guardianship Order (S.G. O) – Caring for Children
Special Guardianship for Grandparents
Special Guardianship Disruption/Breakdown
Kinship Carers UK/Kinship Voices UK
Frequently Asked Questions