Sharon McPherson
Co-founder of Families In Harmony, a representative voice in campaigning for racial equity in kinship care.
Equity In Kinship Care. Being a black kinship carer, Sharon’s eyes have been opened to the structural racial bias in the children’s social care system. Sadly, not everyone’s journey into becoming a kinship carer is one that acknowledges the sacrifice made by stepping up to meet the parenting needs of children with complex early childhoods. For black kinship carers this process can often be distorted by the absence of cultural competency in professional practice. The African Caribbean lived experienced narrative of kinship care is absent from research and sector reviews, leading to assessment protocols and support services culturally not fit for purpose. As a co-founder of Families In Harmony, Sharon is a representative voice in campaigning for racial equity in kinship care – change must come!
'Sounddelivery is giving me the opportunity to amplify the importance issue of racial disparities in kinship care and the wider children's social care sector.'
In the Media
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Six members from our Spokesperson Network were selected as part of Big Issue’s Top 100 Changemakers for 2025: Lady Unchained, Emma Pears, Expert Citizens (Darren Murinas), Families in Harmony (Sharon McPherson and Johanna Bernard), My Life My Choice (Benjamin McCay) and JENGbA (Jan Cunliffe).
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Sharon McPherson wrote ‘Consider the children: Why localism needs to be a devolution of resources not just power’ for Children & Young People Now about local authorities safeguarding children.
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Sharon McPherson wrote ‘Kinship care and the cost-of-living: A system broken for decades’ for Children and Young People Now.