Offering guidance and experience
We rely on our trustees for governing and directing how Kinship Carers is run and ensuring that our charity is maximising its resources and day-to-day team to target help and support to where it’s really needed. All our trustees have either been kinship kids, have been, or are, kinship carers, or have extensive experience in the sphere of kinship care or community work and youth services. Our Trustees’ collective knowledge and experience ensure that our charity is well directed and that we can continue to offer the very best services for the families connected to Kinship Carers Liverpool.
Anita Hanson
TrusteeIve been a nurse for 27 years and have many years experience in different areas of safety and strategies for patients and so much more. Approximately 12 years ago i set up a drug safety patient and public involvement group. I believe this to be a wonderful charity and feel passionate about supporting it.
Kevin Pilnick – Chair
TrusteeIve been the elected member for Norris Green since May 2023. I have been aware of the brilliant work of Kinship Carers long before that. I spent 10 years working for the previous member of Parliament for Norris Green Stephen Twigg and got to know the charity over that period. I was born around the corner from Ellergreen Community center, so know the area extremely well.
Hazel Gearing
TrusteeHazel is currently chair of the Trustees, a role she is very proud of. She is a Kinship Carer, a retired Social Worker/Mental Health Practitioner and has over 40 years’ experience of working with Kinship families for the Local Authority, Barnardo’s and the NHS. For the past 7 years Hazel has been involved in the ‘Kinship Nans Together’ group, a small support group originally set up by CAMHS, Alder Hey in 2006 which is still going strong!
Samantha Davies McCardle – Vice Chair
TrusteeSam is a previous kinship child and currently works in LCC Targeted Services with the local authority and also has vast experience with Youth Service. She has been involved with Kinship Carers Liverpool for over 15 years.
Colette Cadwallader – Secretary
TrusteeColette has many years’ experience working in the Troubled Families & Early Help Teams at LCC, and Youth Services across Merseyside.
Margie Thomas – Treasurer
TrusteeMargie is a Kinship Carer who has 5 grandchildren 3 of whom she and her her husband have raised, 2 have since moved on, she still has her 18 year old grandson living with her. Margie is a very active carer inside and outside Kinship Carers Project, she takes the lead in fundraising events and many other activities within the group.
Amelia Thompson
TrusteeAmelia Thompson LLB (Hons) Solicitor (Family Law) works for MSB Solicitors and is a very busy young mum. Amelia has a great deal of knowledge of issues faced by Kinship Families.
Abbie Wells
TrusteeAbbie was a kinship child and and is very active in campaigning Westminster. Abbie took part in the first ever Young Persons Voice Conference and spoke to an audience of Social Carers and Educational professionals. Abbie now supports our young people to get their voices heard, most recently this included the Parliamentary Task Force report.