EO

Meet Emmanuella

Founder, Kinship Ties

I'm Emmanuella, a social justice advocate and multidisciplinary creative with a background in marketing, passionate about creating spaces where underrepresented voices are heard.

I am a care-experienced young person who grew up under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). For a long time, my SGO family was my safety net. However, when the order ended at 18, so did the structured support from social services. This was a sudden and disorienting transition that left me, and countless others like me, facing a cliff-edge of support.

Without programmes like D&AD Shift, WYK Digital, and Apprentice Nation, I would have easily become a statistic — only 14% of care leavers go on to university, compared to 47% of their non-care-experienced peers. These programmes helped me find community, gain work experience, and build a network.

The prognosis for young people who are care leavers is stark: research shows 14% have slept rough and 26% have sofa-surfed — me included. My lived experience navigating systemic barriers shaped my understanding of inequality and fuelled my drive to challenge injustice.

Through my advocacy with the Bexley Children in Care Council, my time as a "Changemaker" with Big Change, and my marketing work for Brixton Finishing School and the Greenwich Maritime Museum, I learned the importance of youth-led solutions — where young people are the architects of their own change.

Bridging the information gap

Kinship Ties exists to ensure that every young person aged 16–25 under Special Guardianship Orders or in kinship care across the UK has access to clear, reliable information about their rights and available support.

We believe geographical location should never be a barrier to accessing vital support. Through our accessible online platform, we provide youth-tested, easily digestible content on housing, education, employment, and mental health — delivered through bite-sized videos and interactive guides.

What we stand for

• Accessibility: information should be easy to find, understand, and use, regardless of where you live.
• Youth-centred: our content is designed with and for young people, meeting your real needs.
• Reliability: we provide accurate, up-to-date information you can trust.
• Support: we're here to help you navigate your journey with confidence.

Our Team

EO

Emmanuella Okha

Founder

JJ

Joel Jack

Operations Director

CI

Chid Igwe

Program Manager

Understanding Kinship Care

Kinship care is when a child is looked after by a family member or friend, rather than by their parents. This could be a grandparent, older sibling, aunt, uncle, or close family friend.

It's a form of care that keeps children within their family network, maintaining important connections and relationships during difficult times.

What is a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)?

A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is a legal order that gives a person (the special guardian) parental responsibility for a child. It's designed to provide a more permanent arrangement than fostering, but without completely severing the legal link between the child and their birth parents.

Special guardians have the authority to make most decisions about the child's upbringing, though birth parents retain parental responsibility.

Common Questions

Purpose & Scope

We primarily support kinship carers, families under Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs), and care-experienced people. This policy applies to all directors, trustees, staff, freelancers, contractors, volunteers, and anyone working on behalf of Kinship Ties CIC.

Kinship Ties CIC believes everyone has the right to feel safe and supported. We recognise our legal and moral duty to prevent harm and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

Key Principles

• 1The welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount
• 2Everyone has the right to protection regardless of background or identity
• 3Safeguarding must be trauma-informed and person-centred
• 4Partnership working is essential to safeguarding

Safeguarding Roles

What We Do

• Create safe, respectful, and inclusive environments
• Provide safeguarding training and guidance
• Use safer recruitment and DBS checks where appropriate
• Record and respond to concerns promptly and securely

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include abuse, neglect, exploitation, or harm. Anyone with a concern must report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible.

Kinship Ties CIC does not investigate abuse; we listen, record, and refer.

Types of Abuse and Harm

It's important to recognise different types of abuse so you can identify when you or someone else needs help. Abuse can include:

• Physical abuse: hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, or otherwise causing physical harm
• Emotional abuse: persistent emotional maltreatment causing severe adverse effects on emotional development
• Sexual abuse: forcing or enticing a young person to take part in sexual activities
• Neglect: persistent failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs
• Financial abuse: controlling or exploiting someone's finances without consent

Legal Framework

This policy is informed by UK legislation and guidance including:

• Children Acts 1989 and 2004
• The Care Act 2014
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as required.