Author Archives: Sacha Shabbir
Adopting a different approach? by Sam Smethers, Grandparents Plus
Adopting a different approach? by Sam Smethers Chief Executive, Grandparents Plus A couple of weeks ago David Cameron launched a high profile government drive to speed up adoption. Judging by the press reports we would be forgiven for thinking this … Continue reading
Kinship carers in Scotland: a lottery of support, by Heather Scally, Mentor UK
Kinship carers in Scotland: A lottery of support by Heather Scally, Mentor UK, Scotland “I just felt so lost, I didn’t know where or who to turn to” Over the last three years, Mentor has been working closely with kinship … Continue reading
“Giving Extended Families The Credit They Are Due,” by Lord Freud, DWP
“Giving Extended Families The Credit They Are Due,” by Lord Freud, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Minister for Welfare Reform Whether through volunteering or caring for a child or young person, the support provided by grandparents and older people hugely … Continue reading
Grandad-hood: the early days, by Terry Smyth
Grandad-hood: the early days By Terry Smyth Terry, who looks after his grandchildren while his daughter is at work, remembers how he felt about becoming a granddad and those early days of providing childcare. I’ll come clean about … Continue reading
Parenting under the microscope, by Katherine Rake, FPI
Parenting under the Microscope By Katherine Rake, Chief Executive of Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) Celebrating Parents’ Week 2011, 17-23 October While the focus on ‘problem parents’ has received renewed intensity in the wake of the riots, it is also an … Continue reading
Local authorities’ role in supporting grandparent carers, by Matt Dunkley, ADCS
Local authorities’ role in supporting grandparent carers by Matt Dunkley President of The Association of Directors of Children’s Services and Director of Children’s Services in East Sussex More and more children are coming to the attention of children’s services in … Continue reading
Protect grandparent carers from welfare cuts, by Sarah Wellard, Grandparents Plus
Protect grandparent carers from welfare cuts by Sarah Wellard, Policy & Research Manager Grandparents Plus No one can disagree with the Government’s aim to make work pay and get people back into jobs. But we have real concerns about … Continue reading
After the riots: what about the wider family? By Stephen Burke, Grandparents Plus
After the riots: What about the wider family? By Stephen Burke, Co-chair, Grandparents Plus and Director, United for All Ages Beyond the recent riots, our efforts must be on prevention. Prevention not just of more riots but to ensure … Continue reading
Kinship Care and Imprisonment by Cherecee Williams, Prison Advice and Care Trust
Kinship Care and Imprisonment by Cherecee Williams Kinship Care Support Service Manager Prision Advice and Care Trust I work for a charity called pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust) which works with children and families of prisoners. I am the … Continue reading
Too old to care? Opinion from the Children’s Minister by Tim Loughton MP
Too old to care? Opinion from the Children’s Minister by Tim Loughton MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families. Last month I had the pleasure of speaking at the Grandparents Plus conference, which was held in London to … Continue reading
