Yvonne Ramsay from Newhaven will be named as a recipient of the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours when it is published tomorrow.
Yvonne is a member of Kinsfolkcarers and the honour is bestowed ‘For services to Kinship Care Families in Edinburgh’
She was instrumental in founding Kinsfolkcarers a support group for kinship carers in Edinburgh. She realised that there was a lack of support services for kinship carers and together with a couple of other carers, decided to form a support group for kinship carers in the capital.
The aim of the group is to bring together people going through similar challenges to support each other. In response to the rapidly growing numbers attending the group, she contacted The City of Edinburgh Council website and formed a charity so that they could fundraise and help provide better support to the carers coming to the group.
Today the group has 370 members. She set up an emergency phone number, which enables carers to phone for support and advice at any hour of the day or night. The local authority has recognised her role and she has been invited to represent carers on Edinburgh’s multi-advisory kinship care group. Through her fundraising she has organised numerous outings for carers and their families. She is heavily involved with the voluntary organisation, Mentor UK, being a key participant in the development of their Kinship Care Guide and interviewing for new staff to work in their kinship care team.
The group has a website which you can access here.
Photo of Yvonne from Facebook.
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