Adoption Support Fund (ASGSF) in Wales: Why It Works Differently
The English Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund has limited eligibility. Here's what Welsh kinship carers get instead and how to access therapeutic support.
Blog
All articles about Kinship Care in Wales: Special Guardianship Orders, Allowances and Support.
Alternatives to Hiring a Family Solicitor for Kinship Care in Wales
Can't afford a family solicitor for a special guardianship order in Wales? Here are the realistic alternatives — free helplines, printable guides, McKenzie Friends, and Support Through Court.
Applying for a Special Guardianship Order in Wales Without a Solicitor
You can apply for an SGO in Wales as a litigant in person. Here's how the process works without legal representation, what help is available, and what to prepare for.
Benefits for Kinship Carers in Wales: A Complete Checklist
Every benefit a kinship carer in Wales can claim — Child Benefit, Universal Credit, Guardian's Allowance and more — with eligibility rules for each.
Best Kinship Care Resource for Grandparents on a Pension in Wales
If you're a grandparent on a fixed income raising a grandchild in Wales, here's how to choose between free helplines, solicitors, and a printable guide — without wasting money.
Carer's Allowance for Kinship Carers in Wales
Can kinship carers in Wales claim Carer's Allowance? Eligibility rules and how it interacts with Universal Credit and other benefits.
Council Tax Reduction for Kinship Carers in Wales
How kinship carers in Wales can claim council tax reduction — eligibility, the Welsh scheme, and why SGO carers may miss out on foster-carer discounts.
Designated Teacher, School Authority and GP Registration for Special Guardians in Wales
How to register a child at school and with a GP as a special guardian in Wales — designated teachers, parental responsibility proof, and Welsh-language rights.
Discretionary Assistance Fund for Kinship Carers in Wales
How kinship carers in Wales can apply to the Discretionary Assistance Fund for emergency payments and individual assistance — eligibility, limits and the process.
Grandparent Raising a Grandchild in Wales: Legal Options and Support
If you're a grandparent raising a grandchild in Wales, you have three main legal routes. Here's what each one gives you, how to apply, and what financial help is available.
How to Prepare for a Section 14F Assessment in Wales When You Don't Know What to Ask For
The Section 14F assessment informs your SGO support plan and allowance request in Wales. Here's how to prepare for the meeting and ask about the support your household needs.
Informal Kinship Care in Wales: Risks of No Legal Order
Why caring for a relative's child in Wales without a court order is risky — what can go wrong and when to get a legal arrangement in place.
Kinship Care Guide vs Family Solicitor in Wales: Which Do You Actually Need?
Comparing a printable kinship care guide to hiring a family solicitor in Wales for an SGO or child arrangements order — cost, scope, and when each one makes sense.
Kinship Care Guide vs Free Helplines in Wales: Do You Need Both?
Kinship Cymru and the Family Rights Group are excellent — so why would you also buy a printable guide? Here's what each one does, what it doesn't, and how they work together.
Kinship Care vs Foster Care in Wales: Key Differences
What's the difference between kinship care and foster care in Wales? Legal status, financial support, parental responsibility and decision-making compared.
Kinship Care in Wales: Your Rights and What Support Is Available
Raising a relative's child in Wales? Here's what kinship carers are entitled to under Welsh law, the support services available, and how the system works differently from England.
Legal Aid and Court Fees for Special Guardianship in Wales
Can you get legal aid for an SGO in Wales? What is the court fee and can it be waived? A clear breakdown of costs and funding routes for kinship carers.
McKenzie Friends and Support Through Court in Wales Family Proceedings
What a McKenzie Friend can and cannot do in Welsh family court, how Support Through Court helps, and other options for unrepresented kinship carers.
Do You Need Permission to Apply for a Special Guardianship Order?
Some people can apply for an SGO as of right, others need the court's leave first. Here's who qualifies automatically and what happens if you need permission.
Free School Meals, Uniform Grants and Pupil Development Grant for Kinship Carers in Wales
How kinship carers in Wales access free school meals, the school uniform grant and the Pupil Development Grant — eligibility and how to apply.
Section 14A Notice for Special Guardianship in Wales: The Three-Month Rule
Before applying for an SGO in Wales, you normally give your local authority three months' written notice under Section 14A. Here's who to send it to, what to include and what happens next.
SGO Allowance by Council in Wales: Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend and Newport
How SGO allowances vary across Welsh councils — what Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend and Newport pay, how means testing works, and the no-detriment principle.
SGO Assessment in Wales: What to Expect from the Local Authority
After you give notice of an SGO application in Wales the council must assess you. Here's what the assessment covers, how long it takes and what happens with the support plan.
SGO Post-Order Support and Annual Review in Wales
What happens after your Special Guardianship Order is granted in Wales — the support plan, annual reviews, and how to make sure your council keeps its commitments.
How Long Does a Special Guardianship Order Take in Wales?
Realistic SGO timeline in Wales from three-month notice through final hearing — what causes delays and how to keep your application moving.
Social Services and Well-Being Wales Act 2014: What Kinship Carers Need to Know
The 2014 Act governs how Welsh councils support kinship carers. Here's what it means in practice — assessments, support plans and your right to complain.
Special Guardianship Allowance in Wales: How Much and How It Works
SGO allowances in Wales are means-tested and vary by council. Here's how local authorities calculate them, what gets deducted, and how to request a full assessment.
Special Guardianship Forms in Wales: C1, C13A, C2 and C100 Explained
Which court forms do you need for a Special Guardianship Order in Wales? A plain-language guide to Form C1, C13A, C2, C100, FM1 and fee help with EX160.
Respite Care for Special Guardians in Wales
How special guardians in Wales can access respite care through their local authority — what the law requires, how to request it, and what to expect.
Special Guardianship Settling-In Grant in Wales
How to claim a settling-in grant from your Welsh local authority when a child moves in under a Special Guardianship Order — what it covers and how to ask.
Welsh Government Kinship Care Policy and Statutory Guidance
The key Welsh Government policies and statutory guidance on kinship care — what the 2014 Act, the SGO Regulations and the Code of Practice mean for carers.