Develop a support network

Don’t go it alone

When you become a guardian, it can feel like you and the child you care for are on your own, especially as so many people have been involved during the assessment process. This is all natural after such a big life change.

Though you now have taken on new rights and responsibilities, you do not need to do it all on your own.

Building a support network can give you:

• reassurance and perspective

• somewhere to turn in difficult moments

• new ideas to benefit you and the child you care for.

But how do you make sure you have reliable, supportive people around you? It’s different for everyone, but there are things you can do.

Ask for help

We know that many guardians feel like they have to work it all out by themselves and get it ‘right’ straight away. They often say that, in the beginning, they were afraid to ask for support. 

Common reasons include:

• doubts about their ability

• feeling others won’t understand their situation

• risk of being judged

• fear of losing the child they care for by talking about their concerns.

These concerns are understandable but you need not worry. The reality is that you are not expected to have all the answers and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Guardians who get support early and often tend to feel comfortable in the role sooner.

Guardian groups

There are support networks available for guardians and most let you start connecting with people quickly.

We know that many guardians find speaking to other guardians valuable. You can join welcoming, ready-made local and national groups, where you can meet other guardians online and offline.

Groups are a great way to gain reassurance, perspective and ideas from people who understand your experience. 

Learn more about guardian groups

Speak to friends

Some guardians may inadvertently overstate their support network during the assessment process.

They worry they’ll be refused guardianship if they don’t show they have connections, but then can end up feeling isolated as they start this chapter of their life. For some people, that makes it even more difficult to reach out and ask for help.  

But being a guardian doesn’t mean you have to find and build a brand new network. The one you have is often the best place to start. Be honest with the people around you about what you need and how they can support you.

Friends can be an important help as you get used to being a guardian. If you’re finding it hard to open up or maintain those relationships, we can listen and give you some practical advice. 

Take the first step

Don’t put off making that first connection. You may be busy or feeling anxious about what it might be like, but you’ll be making a positive move forward. 

Most guardians say they feel relief after taking the first steps to strengthen their support network. They say the people they meet and speak to are typically friendly and welcoming. It’s all part of being a guardian and ultimately, in the best interests of the child you care for. 

The sooner you pick up the phone or go to a group, the sooner you get the benefits of having people who listen to, understand and help you.

Contact our team

You can get support from our experienced team from day one of your guardianship. Hundreds of guardians use our free support service every year. 

Phone or email with any questions or problems and we can give you expert advice, make sure you feel listened to, and point you in the right direction. There are lots of ways to build your support network and we can help find the right way of doing it for you.

Contact our advice line