On Thursday, the Princess of Wales spoke to British rapper, Professor Green – who was brought up in kinship care as he was raised by his grandmother – during her second royal engagement of the day. The pair joined forces to shed a light on children raised by relatives and friends. During her visit, The Princess and Professor Green discussed with trainees – who have taken part in the scheme’s creative-writing programme – about their lived experiences and how the programme has helped them.
The rapper, who has first-hand experience of the care system, is a Shaping Us champion.
Shaping Us is Kate’s project, which launched earlier this year. The project aims to highlight the importance of the early years.
The Princess of Wales met with kinship carers at a support group session in London to hear about their experiences of raising the child of a relative or friend. They also highlighted the vital role they play in raising the next generation.
Slighly different to adoption or foster care, Kinship care is when a child is looked after by their extended family or close friends when the child cannot remain with their birth parents.
Kate is meeting with a group of kinship carers who have been supported by Kinship, which is a leading charity dedicated to them, and discuss the role they play in a child’s development.
Professor Green was on hand to his give first-hand experience, as a Kinship child who was raised by his grandmother.
Kate will also discuss with them the challenges faced by the carers and the support that has been made available to them.
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Over 162,000 children are currently being raised in kinship care in England and Wales, many of whom who
have experienced trauma in their earliest years.
Despite this, many benefit from family members or friends being able to step up and care for them.
During her first visit earlier this morning, Kate met with a small group of adoptive and foster parents to hear about the efforts in helping to support young people who have experience of the care system.
They discussed the importance of ensuring that every child has loving networks around them, and equally has the foundation to build positive, lasting connections with other people.
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The Foundling Museum tells the tale of the Foundling Hospital – the UK’s first children’s charity founded in 1739.
It was set up as a home for children whose mothers couldn’t care for or keep them.
Since it was founded, the Museum has delivered a host of mentorship programmes and creative projects, as well as training, led and developed by contemporary artists, musicians and writers.
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