We are thrilled to announce that the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland have achieved the Gold Standard Kinship Friendly Employer status – the first organisation in Scotland to achieve such a feat.
Kinship carers are relatives and family friends who step up to raise children and provide them with loving stable homes when their parents are unable to, often with very little support.
The Kinship Friendly Employer scheme supports kinship carers who want to stay in work to maintain their income, job security and career prospects whilst stepping up to take on caring responsibilities for children they love. Kinship has worked with the Scottish Government on a co-branded Kinship Friendly Employer scheme toolkit to support Scottish employers wanting to create positive change for kinship carer workers. Employers who join are publicly recognised as organisations that want to support their employees with balancing their work whilst looking after their children.
Harvey Tilley, Chief Operating Officer of ILF Scotland, said:
“I am delighted to share that ILF Scotland has achieved Gold Standard status for Kinship Care. Even more exciting, we are the first employer in Scotland to achieve this recognition. This is a significant milestone that reflects our deep commitment to our role as a Corporate Parent and to the families and children we support.
“Attaining this standard is not just about recognition, it shows that we are embedding best practice across the organisation, ensuring that kinship carers feel valued, supported, and equipped in the vital role they play. For our staff, it also reinforces the importance of working with compassion, flexibility, and respect, and highlights the difference we can make when we bring our values to life every day.
“For the families and children who benefit, it means knowing they can rely on us for consistent, high-quality support that helps them to thrive. This achievement is something we can all be proud of and a testament to the dedication of our staff and our unwavering commitment to creating brighter futures together.”
Kinship’s Co-Director of Policy and Communications, Rhiannon Clapperton, said:
“We’re delighted that the Independent Living Fund Scotland is our first Scottish Gold-Standard Kinship Friendly Employer, helping to create an inclusive workplace culture that recognises and supports the needs of kinship carers in their workforce. Gold standard support includes offering paid leave to all kinship carers, when they take on the care of a child, that equals the organisation’s adoption leave and pay. This is vital to enable kinship carers to remain in work when they take on the care of a child. The support also includes providing information to kinship carers and signposting them to where they can access further support.
“Our research shows that 8 in 10 kinship carers are forced to leave work or reduce hours when they take on the care of a child, so when employers support kinship carers it can make a massive difference.
“We have been campaigning for paid leave for kinship carers for over a decade and are delighted that the UK government will include kinship care in its long-awaited review of parental leave. If introduced, it would benefit kinship carers in all UK nations.”
Jayne Charlton, People and Culture Lead at ILF Scotland, was in kinship care during her childhood, and warmly welcomes this new accolade:
“As someone who was cared for by my grandfather during parts of my childhood, this recognition holds personal significance. It’s a powerful reminder of the vital role kinship carers play and the lasting impact of feeling safe, supported and loved. This Gold Standard reflects our commitment to making that a reality for others.”
