21 December 2011 – Grandparents Reveal Struggles Of Raising Youngsters At Christmas.
Thousands of grandparents are facing a tough Christmas this year as they battle the emotional, physical and financial strain of bringing festive cheer to some of the UK’s most vulnerable youngsters, a leading charity warns today.
Cash strapped grandparents who are raising their grandchildren today reveal the reality of Christmas as they struggle to make up for the absence of parents who may be dead, in prison or banned from contacting their offspring, often while coping with their own health problems and the needs of their own elderly partners.
The charity Grandparents Plus says that rising prices, benefit cuts and squeezed family budgets are putting extra strain on kinship carers this Christmas, with many forking out for other grandchildren as well as the ones they are bringing up because their parents cannot – or will not – contribute.
Denise Murphy, interim Chief Executive at Grandparents Plus said:
“Grandparent carers face a real struggle all year often with no support from local authorities. Some kinship carers will reach breaking point at Christmas because that’s when all the biggest issues – lack of money, difficult relationships with parents and children’s feelings of rejection are really heaped on them.
“We know from talking to a great many of them that the economic situation is making things even harder. We can offer support through an advice service and by putting grandparents and other carers in touch with others in their situation.”
The following comments from grandparent carers around England reveal the extent of the challenges faced by many this Christmas:
- “Christmas is a very difficult time of the year. It’s normally a time when families get together but my granddaughter is only allowed supervised contact with her mum. We always manage but this year is going to be especially hard.”
- “This year Christmas is particularly bad with the recession. Several of our children are out of work and we’ve had to help them out financially and make sure their children get presents.”
- “It’s difficult to manage around Christmas. My daughter is only allowed to see the children for a couple of hours. Her current boyfriend has been described by social services as someone who is dangerous towards young girls.”
- “I can’t afford to buy presents for the children at Christmas. Every aspect of my life has changed since I took on care of my grandchildren, but it is a choice we make to prevent our children going into care.
- “At Christmas nobody gets a lot, but everybody gets something. My wife goes round the charity shops and second hand shops.”
- “At Christmas we aren’t able to go and visit family because my husband is ill. We’ve not had a holiday or been on away anywhere since we took custody of our grandson.”
Around 300,000 children are raised by their grandparents or other family members because their parents cannot look after them – with London, Birmingham and northern cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Nottingham among those with the highest rates of children cared for by the grandparents.
Denise Murphy added: “At Christmas, more than ever, kinship carers are trying to keep the family together for the sake of the children. We want to see kinship carers entitled to a national allowance, like foster carers and carers for disabled adults. They are doing a great job keeping children out of care but they need more support.”
You can download the press release in the link below:
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5 December 2011 – Who will be left holding the baby?
Charity warns of ‘care gap’ crisis as grandmothers providing childcare required to stay in work longer
Nearly two thirds (63%) of grandparents with grandchildren under 16 are providing childcare, (around 7 million in total), often to enable parents to work, with one in five (19%) of grandmothers providing at least 10 hours a week and half (50%) of mothers relying on grandparents to look after their babies when they return from maternity leave – according to new analysis from the charity Grandparents Plus.
But with the state pension age set to rise, increasing numbers of grandmothers will be expected to stay in work until they reach 65 years old or older, warns the charity. They will have to juggle work and care, with the extra pressure of an ageing population likely to increase the number of older relatives needing help.
The new analysis, brought together in the Grandparents Plus report, Doing it all?, compares British Social Attitudes Survey Data in 1998 and 2009 and shows that:
- Young grandmothers aged under 50, are the most likely to provide childcare , but overall most childcare is provided by grandmothers aged 55 to 64, the very group who in future will have to stay in work longer, followed by grandparents aged and 65 to 74.
- Most grandmothers who provide childcare are retired or not working, but working grandparents (both grandmothers and grandfathers) are more likely to say they provide care, reflecting the fact that there are many more grandparents who are retired or not working than those who are still working.
Grandparents Plus says that although the extra money that the Government has announced for nursery places for two year olds and to help with childcare for people working less than 16 hours a week is welcome, the cut in childcare tax credit implemented in April still means that many families are facing an extra £500 a year in childcare costs.
Denise Murphy, interim Chief Executive at Grandparents Plus said:
“With childcare costs soaring, many parents are becoming increasingly dependent on grandparents to look after children so they can go to work. But we think one of the consequences of the raising of the state pension age may be more mothers giving up work because grandmothers are no longer available to provide childcare.
“Take London as an example – where childcare costs are highest, and fewer families have grandparents they can turn to for help. Here, proportionately fewer women are in work than elsewhere in the UK and there are some of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK.”
The analysis also shows that:
- Eight in ten (78%) women aged over 75 in Britain are grandmas (compared to seven in ten (68%) in 1998).
- 45% of grandmothers are living alone (compared to 38% in 1998).
- Four in ten (39%) of grandmothers are relying on the state pension compared to 25% of grandfathers.
- 60% of grandmothers who look after their grandchildren are aged under 65.
Denise Murphy says the findings provide a stark warning to policy makers about the need to support both childcare and eldercare. She said:
“As the UK’s population ages, there is growing pressure on grandparents go out to work as well as provide care for their grandchildren and often elderly relatives as well. As older people remain longer in the workplace, there is a risk of a serious ‘care gap’ emerging in the provision of informal care for children and older people.
“And for those grandmothers who are forced to leave the workplace to take on caring roles, the increase in the number who are living without a partner places them in a vulnerable position, particularly with welfare reforms being brought in.”
Grandparents Plus is calling for:
- Grandparents to have access to flexible working, to support those combining work with childcare. The charity wants to achieve this by extending the right to request flexible working to all.
- Parents to have the option of transferring any unused parental leave to a grandparent who is in work.
- More investment in high quality affordable childcare.
- Consideration as to who will be left holding the babies as grandparents are required to stay in work longer.
- A radical overhaul of and greater investment in social care for vulnerable adults.
You can download the report and press release on links below:
29 June 2011 – Families torn apart as older grandparents ‘too old to care’, says new report
Heartache of families facing ‘ageist attitudes’ as Comic Relief-backed campaign launches
Children in care in the UK are being separated from close family members – because social workers and local authority panels give greater weight to the ‘permanency’ of adoption, rather than the love, stability and family links that grandparents and other family carers can provide, according to leading family charity Grandparents Plus.
The new report, Too Old to Care?, reveals the heartache felt by families as social services make ageist assumptions about grandparents’ ability to raise their young grandchildren. It also reveals the intense fear felt by many older grandparents of their grandchildren being taken away – which prevents them seeking help.
There are an estimated 25,000 grandparents over the age of 65 raising 30,000 grandchildren in the UK, often due to challenging circumstances including parental alcohol and drug misuse, abuse or neglect, imprisonment, bereavement, disability or illness. If the children they are caring for were in independent foster care it would cost £1.4 billion in care costs alone each year.
Too Old To Care?, which is based on in-depth interviews with older grandparent carers, shows how older grandparents face prolonged legal battles, lack of support and financial hardship as they fight to care for their grandchildren. The report also highlights evidence to show that adoption is not necessarily a permanent alternative for children with rates of placement breakdown of between 10-50%.
One great-grandmother, looking after three great-granddaughters was told by social workers that she was not entitled to any respite because she was a grandparent:
“I didn’t have anyone who could say to me, sit down, I’ll take the girls for an hour.”
Another grandparent carer, a former district nurse, said:
“I didn’t want [social services] to be involved because I worked with them for thirty years and they often make the wrong decision.”
Another grandfather spoke of the agony of his year-long, £18,000 court battle to prevent his three grandchildren from being adopted.
One grandmother who has been raising her eight year old grandson since he was born, said of the local authority:
“When they come near us from time to time it’s very scary because obviously we don’t want him to be taken away.”
Too Old to Care? finds that:
- Older grandparents are often reluctant to approach children’s services for support as they fear their children will be taken away
- Where support is provided for grandparents carers, it often fails to meet their needs
- 75% of older carers have a long term health condition or a disability
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus, said:
“This research reveals the hidden contribution made by older grandparent carers. But it is worrying to discover that many who need support are too scared to ask for it and of those who do, most don’t get the help they need. There is a fundamental lack of trust in the system which needs to be addressed.
“We found a range of problems – from ageist assumptions that they’re ‘too old to care’, through to poor quality assessments and care plans. Yet we know that older people do make good parents for children. They have a wealth of experience and can provide children with love, a sense of identity and belonging and crucially maintain relationships with the wider family.”
“Love and attachment are all too often undervalued by social services. In our view, it’s love that matters most.”
The Government has introduced new statutory guidance on family and friends care which requires local authorities to consider family members first when children cannot live with their parents, and to provide support based on the needs of the child. They must also have a policy in place by the end of September 2011. Age discrimination legislation covering local authority services is also due to come into force in April 2012.
Sam Smethers added:
“We want to see local authorities implementing new statutory guidance on family and friends care in full. In addition, given the lack of trust in social services, it is important for carers to have access to support from independent, trusted, providers.”
Grandparents Plus makes a number of recommendations in the report, including:
- The use of direct payments should be piloted for family and friends carers as an alternative to respite, to enable them to decide how best to meet the needs of the children they are bringing up.
- Local authorities must fully implement the statutory guidance on family and friends care. This includes ensuring that family and friends carers can access financial, legal and practical support, counselling and support groups.
- Family and friends carers should be able to access services through trusted sources independently of social services. Health providers, schools, children’s centres and voluntary sector providers should recognise the needs of children in family and friends care and offer information and support to them.
- Care plans for children should take account of the needs of grandparent carers themselves, particularly where they have additional caring responsibilities for a relative or partner or where they have health difficulties themselves.
- Central government should review the financial support available to family and friends carers, and ensure that proposals in the welfare reform bill recognise them and the children they are looking after, to avoid children suffering financial hardship or being taken into care.
- Social work training should ensure students are aware of the benefits of family and friends care, and to challenge ageist assumptions that older grandparents are “too old to care”.
The report kick-starts Grandparents Plus’ new campaign, Keep Families Together, which is backed by Comic Relief. A hard-hitting campaign film featuring a child asking ‘Who would you choose for me?’ which will be available at www.keepfamiliestogether.org.uk, gives the viewer the choice faced by social workers when deciding whether a child should be placed with grandparents or an adoptive family.
- Click here to download Too old to care? report
- Click here to read and download Press release
- Click here to watch new campaign ‘Keep families together’ videos
16 June 11 – Commenting on new research released by the Buttle Trust and University of Bristol today, Sam Smethers Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus, said:
“This important research shows the extent of the contribution made by grandparents, siblings and other family members in raising children, keeping them out of the care system. It is time for them to be properly recognised, valued and supported.
“We want to see local authorities implementing new statutory guidance in full, and ensuring that the children being brought up in family and friends care and their families are given the support they need.”
16 May 11 – Europe’s ‘granny leave’ means Britain has a long way to go in ‘family friendly’ stakes, says Grandparents Plus
As charity launches groundbreaking research study on grandparents in Europe
Britain has a long way to go in recognising and supporting the role of grandparent carers, according to campaigning charity Grandparents Plus who today issue a challenge to the Coalition Government to deliver on its promise of making Britain the most family friendly country in the world.
The challenge comes on the day the Government’s Family Friendly Britain consultation launches, which includes the proposal to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees. However, campaigners are concerned that the Government is also proposing to weaken the right to request by replacing the statutory process for considering flexible working requests with a Code of Practice. Currently only parents and carers have the right to request flexible working. Older workers, including grandparents, miss out on the entitlement.
The Government has also stopped short of proposing that parents should be able to transfer parental leave to grandparents, something the charity has called for and has found is available to families in other parts of Europe.
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus, said:
“At a time when families in Britain are under growing pressure they are more likely to turn to grandparents for help with childcare. But many of these grandparents are working age themselves. This consultation is important because access to flexible working would really help them to juggle work and care.
“1 in 3 working mums rely on grandparents for childcare. We can’t claim to be a truly family friendly country while grandparents continue to get such a raw deal. Our research shows that in some parts of Europe grandparents get better recognition for their role in supporting families. Our government’s failure to do the same is a sign of how out of touch they are with the reality of family life in Britain today. ”
Grandparents Plus has recently secured significant new funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to launch a major study focusing on grandparenting in Europe. The groundbreaking piece of work, in partnership with the Beth Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Gerontology at King’s College London, will highlight the differences between countries across Europe in recognising the role of grandparent carers.
It will build on research from the charity’s scoping survey from June 2010 Grandparenting in Europe, which showed that:
- 6 out of 10 grandmothers and 5 out of 10 grandfathers across the EU provide childcare for their grandchildren
- 40% of grandparents in Italy, Spain and Greece provide regular childcare
- 20% of grandparents in Sweden, France and Denmark provide regular childcare
The study highlights how far behind the UK falls in valuing grandparents, compared to other European nations, showing that a number of EU countries have already taken steps to ensure the grandparents’ role is supported, including:
- Parents able to transfer parental leave to a grandparent (Hungary, Germany)
- Working grandparents able to take leave if their grandchild is unwell or where the parent is still in full-time education (in Germany)
- Grandparents being paid for the care they provide under certain circumstances (e.g. to support teenage parents in Portugal)
The charity wants to see:
- the right to request flexible working extended to all which will particularly help the growing army of grandparents who are juggling work and childcare so that parents can work.
- parental leave to be transferable to grandparents
- the introduction of a two week period of ‘granny leave’
- grandparents to be paid either through tax credits or childcare vouchers for the childcare they provide.
- those grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and other family carers who step in to raise a child in the absence of parents to be entitled to paid leave when they take on the care of a child, similar to adoption leave.
The new study will establish a detailed picture of family policy and grandparenting in each of the 10 EU countries featured. It will also, for the first time, identify comparative data sources to build up a comprehensive picture of grandparenting across the EU.
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus continued:
”We know some of our European neighbours are already well ahead in recognising and supporting grandparents – and this new study will allow us to find out exactly how their systems work and what we can learn for the UK.”
Andrew Barnett, UK Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation said:
“We are funding this new research because the evidence tells us that grandparents are playing a significant role in family life. As our population ages that trend is set to continue. How we recognise, value and support that role should be of strategic importance to governments across the EU.”
Karen Glaser, Institute of Gerontology, Kings College London added:
“We are very excited to be undertaking this new study in partnership with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Grandparents Plus, and the Beth Johnson Foundation. Our earlier scoping study found that despite its growing importance as a matter of policy, there is little research examining what grandparenting looks like across Europe, or how policies in different European countries influence the structure of grantparenthood.
“We are looking forward to developing a better understanding of what types of family policies help to support the family including the extended family, and in what circumstances. “
For more information and interviews with Sam Smethers at Grandparents Plus, please contact: Melissa Milner melissa@dhacommunications.co.uk 020 7793 4035 / 07976 636 228.
06 Apr 11 – Grandparent National Insurance Credits
Tens of thousands of carers set to benefit from Grandparent National Insurance Credits
Grandparents caring for children under the age of 12 will be entitled to new National Insurance credit payments, under new rules coming into effect from today. The credits will be used to boost state pensions, ensuring many grandparents will still be entitled to a full basic pension even if they have to give up work to care for their grandchildren so that parents can work.
At present many grandparents retire with incomplete national insurance records and so miss out on the full basic state pension.
Grandparents will be able to claim the credit for the 2011/12 tax year in arrears from April 2012. The new credit is expected to benefit at least tens of thousands of carers, who will immediately qualify.
Grandparents Plus Chief Executive Sam Smethers, welcomed the new NI Credit. She said:
‘Many grandparents who are of working age give up work to provide childcare. They often don’t realise that their pension will be affected until it’s too late.’
‘The new National Insurance top-ups recognise that for many, caring for grandchildren is a full-time job. The fact that the credits will contribute to their basic state pension in the same way as paid employment will make a huge difference to thousands of grandparent carers. It shows that their caring contribution does count and should be recognised.’
31 Mar 11 – Post Divorce Access Proposal
Grandparents Plus has today welcomed proposals from a government-commissioned review on family justice to reinforce the importance of the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren following divorce.
Grandparents Plus chief executive Sam Smethers: “These proposals are very welcome. We know that the involvement of grandparents in children’s lives when parents separate helps cushion the impact of that separation or divorce on the children and have been calling for greater recognition of this fact for some time.
“We now hope the Government implements the proposals as soon as possible.”
Details of the proposals are being unveiled today as part of a government-commissioned review on family justice by David Norgrove, a former civil servant.
The review was established to examine how the current system could be reformed to better support children and parents.
Further information from Jon Flinn on 0151 709 0505
09 Mar 11 – Generations Together At The Top
Grandparents Plus has announced an exciting new Co-Chair arrangement, which will see many years of experience joining together to steer the charity through its current period of growth and beyond. Stephen Burke and Jean Stodgon will head up the Board of Trustees, which in recent months has recruited six additional members.
The innovative solution will forge a new way forward for Grandparents Plus; Chief Executive Sam Smethers said: “I am really looking forward to working with both Jean and Stephen in the years ahead, together with our new board. I have no doubt they will give us the strategic direction and support we need to go from strength to strength.”
You can download a copy of the press release below and read more about our trustees here.
08 Mar 11 – New Pensions Proposals
Speaking in response to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ announcement of plans to simplify the state pension, Sam Smethers Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
‘These proposals will transform our pensions system for the better and should be widely welcomed. It will particularly help women who have spent time during their working lives caring for their children, grandchildren or other family members. At the moment they are likely to retire with an incomplete pension record and find themselves in poverty.’
02 Mar 11 – New Pensions Campaign
Grandparents Plus is backing Age UK’s campaign against speeding up the equalisation of the State Retirement Age for women and men. The changes proposed in the Pensions Bill will mean the retirement age for women will reach 65 by 2018 and 66 by 2020, six years earlier than originally planned. 2.6million women will be affected. Speaking alongside Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP and Yvette Cooper MP, Women and Equalities Shadow and Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Pensions spokesperson, at Age UK’s event in the House of Commons on Monday 28 February Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
‘These women have already been poorly served by the pensions system as many of them have incomplete contribution records because of time spent caring for their families. Many are grandparents. Now the Government are moving the goalposts at this stage and telling them they will have to work longer, leaving them little time to plan.
‘These changes are unfairly targeting a particular group of women. We are backing Age UK’s campaign because we want the Government to think again.’
Amendments to the pensions bill were debated in the House of Lords on Tuesday 1st March. You can read the debate here.
02 Feb 11 – NEW survey data
140,000 children across the UK are being raised by grandparents and other family and friends carers because of parental alcohol or substance misuse, according to new survey data released today by Grandparents Plus. The charity is joining forces with the Children’s Society, Mentor UK and Adfam to highlight the plight of carers raising children under these challenging circumstances – who are saving the taxpayer an estimated £5.5billion each year in care costs. The survey is being launched at the House of Lords, hosted by Baroness Massey of Darwen, at the first of the charity’s series of seminars focussing on the different reasons why grandparents and family members step in to provide care. You can download a copy of the press release below and a copy of the policy briefing paper here.
28 Oct 10 – New Campaign and Survey
Welfare reform and spending cuts will penalise army of grandparent carers, says new report Family and friends carers who provide £12 billion worth of care each year head to Westminster to ask:“What if we said no?”. To find out more about the campaign click here.
200,000 family and friends carers, raising around 300,000 children in the UK, who would cost an estimated £12 billion each year if they were in the care system, are largely unrecognised by local and national government – and are set to be hit hard by welfare reform and spending cuts, according to a new report from charity Grandparents Plus launching today.
Campaigners are concerned that the cuts will undermine grandparents’ ability to care resulting in more children ending up in the care system, at great cost to the tax payer.
‘What if we said no?’ is based on a new survey of over 250 family and friends carers, most of whom are grandparents, launches today, (Thursday 28 October) as part of a national lobby day where over 200 grandparent carers and their grandchildren from across the country head to Westminster to call for greater recognition and respect for the ‘forgotten army’ of carers. A separate event organised by The Poverty and Truth Commission is also taking place at the Scottish Parliament.
The survey reveals the challenges facing grandparent carers, including:
- Two thirds have a household income of under £300 a week
- 7% don’t receive any kind of benefit or allowance for looking after a child – not even child benefit
- 4 out of 10 (41%) are raising a child alone
- Over half (57%) gave up work or reduced their hours to take on care of a child.
- 88% of the carers are under 65, half of them are under 55.
- 6 out of 10 have a chronic health condition or a disability
The report shows that children living in family and friends care are a particularly vulnerable group, having experienced parental alcohol or drug misuse, abuse, neglect or domestic violence, or the long-term illness of a parent. Grandparents Plus has also found that 4 out of 10 of these children have difficulties at schools such as making friends and some experience bullying.
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
“We share the Government’s vision for the Big Society. And grandparents are at the forefront of it because society is built on the family. But here are grandparents doing the right thing, picking up the pieces in times of crisis and all too often they take a financial hit and their health suffers as a result.”
“Our research shows that before they take on this caring role they are like any other grandparents. But then a family crisis means they have to step in. It could happen to anyone.”
Follow the link below to download the full Press Release and to download the full report click here.
15 Oct 10 – Government gives Grandparents more credit
Grandparents who give up work to look after their grandchildren will no longer lose out on their basic State Pension thanks to Government action.
Working age grandparents could be missing out on retirement money when they stop working before building up enough National Insurance credits to get a full basic State Pension. On average people become grandparents for the first time at age 49 – a contrast to the commonly held perception that all grandparents are pensioners.
Today, the Minister for Pensions Steve Webb launched a consultation on changes to National Insurance credits including how they will be awarded to grandparents.
He said: “I have supported the idea of a Grandparents’ Credit for many years. For too long the vital child-care that grandparents provide so that parents can work has been overlooked by the system.
It is about time that we protect the pension rights of grandparents, many who are in their early 50s and giving up work early to provide vital child-care. Parents of children under 12 and carers receive a credit towards their basic State Pension so it makes sense to extend this to grandparents of working age too.”
The credit will be added to an individual’s National Insurance contributions record and count towards their basic State Pension. From April 2010, thirty years of National Insurance contributions are needed to qualify for the full basic State Pension. The credits will be aimed at grandparents, and anyone who is providing care for a young relative under the age of 12.
Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus, Sam Smethers welcomed the consultation, she said:
“We warmly welcome the introduction of the Grandparent National Insurance Credit. We know that working age grandmothers on low incomes provide a substantial amount of childcare. Until now they have done so with the risk that they could miss out on a full basic state pension. This is also an important victory for the principle that grandparental childcare does count and should be recognised. We believe it has implications for other areas of government policy.”
27 Sep 10 – Striking Grandparents in Spain
Commenting on reports that a trade union in Spain is urging grandparents to go on strike to demonstrate the contribution they make to childcare, Sam Smethers Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said,
‘Grandparents in the UK probably wouldn’t want to go on strike but if they did the economy would grind to a halt. 1 in 3 working mums rely on grandparents for childcare and that contribution is set to grow as families are under increasing pressure and we face the prospect of public sector spending cuts. Our own research, Grandparenting in Europe shows lack of affordable formal childcare in Spain is one of the reasons why grandparents are expected to fill the gap.’
‘We have to recognise and value the contribution that grandparents are making to family life and to our society.’
17 Jun 10 – Childhood and Families Taskforce
Commenting on the Government’s announcement of a new Childhood and Families Taskforce, together with more legal rights for grandparents Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
‘We welcome the Government’s announcement of more rights for grandparents. This legal change is long overdue. Our ageing society coupled with growing pressures on family life means grandparents are increasingly becoming the family lifeline. But they are under pressure too. This new Taskforce will have to get to grips with that changing reality.’
08 Jun 10 – UK lagging behind other countries in recognising crucial role of grandparents
Britain’s grandparents are undervalued and overlooked compared to those in a number of other European countries, according to Grandparenting in Europe, a groundbreaking new study by charity Grandparents Plus, the Beth Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Gerontology at Kings College London. You can download a copy of the report here.
13 May 10 – Grandparents Plus welcomes landmark ruling on grandparent foster carers
Speaking in response to the news that a grandmother has won her 5 year battle to be paid the same rate as a foster carer for looking after her granddaughter Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
‘This ruling is highly significant. It means that local authorities will need to look again at their practice of paying famly and friends carers less than foster carers, or not paying them at all in many cases.’
‘The system we have is unsustainable. More and more children are being taken in to care, yet there is a shortage of foster carers. Family and friends care provides a solution as local authorities struggle with our creaking care system. But they cannot go on doing it on the cheap. It is time that grandparents and other carers got a fair deal or local authorities may find themselves on the wrong side of the law.’
The case was brought by Nigel Priestley at Ridley and Hall Solicitors. Download a copy of their press release here
25 Apr 10 – New web video
on becoming a young grandparent now available on Parentchannel.tv. Click here
01 Apr 10 – Grandparents Guide
A new guide for grandparents Family Life has been launched by Grandparents Plus with advice and guidance on issues such as a new baby, living with teenagers, when parents part and crisis situations. Funded by DCSF, the guide has the backing of Agony Aunt Denise Robertson and Ed Balls.
29 Mar 10 – New Survey
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has found that grandparents are as influential as professional advisers. You can read more here.
03 Mar 10 – Protect Support Provide
Grandparents Plus and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have been working in partnership to explore older people’s poverty and child poverty around grandparental care. We have found that grandparents are risking hardship themselves to provide growing childcare and support to their families.
25 Jan 10 – New
Parent Channel TV programme about grandparents aged 40 or under. If you are a young grandparent and want to take part contact us at info@grandparentsplus.org.uk
20 Jan 10 – New
We welcome the strong focus on grandparents in the government Green Paper.
Under embargo until 00.01 hours, Wednesday 20 January 2010
Statement from Grandparents Plus on the announcement by the Department for Children, Schools and Families of a ‘New package of measures to recognise grandparents’ in the Families and Relationships Green Paper
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
‘We welcome the strong focus on the role of grandparents in family life in the government’s Families and Relationships Green Paper – it reflects the growing understanding of changing family life in Britain today.
‘We particularly support the proposals to remove the requirement for Grandparents to seek leave from the court before they apply for contact with their grandchildren. This recognises the important role grandparents play in caring for grandchildren.
‘Additional legal rights for grandparents and improved support for family and friends carers is certainly welcome. But what they really need is more financial support – so we’re still looking for government to do more.’
20 Jan 10 – New
Grandparents Plus is backing Kids in Museums Family Ticket Watch campaign. Does your family qualify for a family ticket? What needs to change? Be part of the campaign and have your say.
07 Dec 09 – NEW
ippr Sandwich Generation event. Grandparents Plus Chief Exec Sam Smethers attends seminar on implications of the modern family for policy, public services and the labour market.
26 Oct 09 – Recognition, Respect, Reward
A forgotten army of grandparent carers are living deep in poverty says a new survey by Grandparents Plus. More than on in three (38%) of grandparent carers looking after children are living ‘below the poverty line and struggling to cope’. Many family and friends carers are battling to get children away from abuse or neglect but then finding it difficult to cope, overlooked by services and without emotional or financial support.
07 Oct 09 – Grandparents Plus comments on David Willetts’ speech
David Willetts has promised a ‘fair deal for grandparents’ in his speech at the Conservative Party Conference on 7th October 2009 – see extract below.
“For a start, we should be far more ready to turn to kith and kin if disaster strikes, and a child loses his or her parents. There are grandparents who would willingly take on responsibility for their grandchild in those tragic circumstances. But only 1 in 6 foster care placements are with family and friends. Only half of local authorities have a stated policy that family and friends should be considered a first option before fostering or taking a child into care. Family and friends, especially grandparents, must have a right to be legal guardians of the child. I pledge today a fair deal for grandparents.”
Commenting on David Willetts’ promise of a ‘fair deal for grandparents’ Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
“We warmly welcome the Conservative Party’s focus on the role of grandparents and the wider family. But a fair deal means access to services and financial support when grandparents do step in to care for children, saving the taxpayer money by keeping them out of the care system. At the moment most grandparents in this situation receive no help from their local authorities.”
08 Sep 09 – My second mum and dad
A new generation of grandparents are closer than ever to their teenage grandchildren playing a critical role throughout their everyday lives, a unique survey published by national charity Grandparents Plus, reveals today.
22 Jun 09 – Under 55, poor, balancing work and caring
A new invisible generation of ‘gran- carers’ is caught in a cycle of deprivation and facing financial hardship, according to a new report from charity Grandparents Plus launched today.
22 Apr 09 – Grandparents Plus response to Budget Statement
Responding to the statement made by Chancellor Alistair Darling MP said: “Increasingly grandparents play a big role in family life and in looking after their grandchildren. To reflect this we will, for the first time, ensure these caring responsibilities for grandparents of working age will count towards their entitlement to the basic state pension.”
Chief Executive, Sam Smethers said: “We warmly welcome the introduction of the Grandparent National Insurance Credit. We know that working age grandmothers on low incomes are the ones who are most likely to be providing that childcare. Until now they have done so with the risk that they could miss out on a full basic state pension.”
… “This is also an important victory for the principle that grandparental childcare does count and should be recognised. We believe it has implications for other areas of government policy.”
25 Mar 09 – Grandparents should be ‘paid’ for childcare and given two weeks ‘granny leave’
Grandparents should be ‘paid’ tax credits for childcare and those in work given two weeks ‘granny leave’ to help care for newborn grandchildren according to a report published today by Grandparents Plus.
24 Feb 09 – Blunkett backs call to end grandparent pensions penalty
Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett MP has thrown his weight behind the campaign to end the pensions penalty for working age grandparents who care for grandchildren.
29 Jan 09 – Daily Mail Grandparents Campaign
Commenting on the Daily Mail Grandparents Campaign Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said: “This story should not be about the sexuality of prospective adopters. What matters is the grandparents’s relationship with the children. All too often grandparents find themselves dismissed from children’s lives when in fact they can be fundamental roots and anchors for children, particularly in times of crisis. It is time that we really began to focus on and value the child’s relationship with whoever is important to them.”
On the question of age discrimination she added: “We want to see forthcoming age discrimination legislation in the Equality Bill used to test some of these decisions. We will be pursuing the issue in parliament to ensure that children’s services are covered by the new laws.”
13 Jan 09 – MPs back call to end grandparent pensions penalty
A cross-party group of MPs has backed Grandparents Plus’ call to end the pensions penalty for working age grandparents who care for their grandchildren for 20 hours per week or more. You can download our press release and a copy of our Q&A briefing below, view the monitor signatures to the early day motion here.
Former Work and Pensions Secretary, David Blunkett has now backed the campaign saying: “This is the missing part of the jigsaw in the radical re-shaping of pensions and the greater equality of provision which the Government started back in 2005 and which always intended to recognise carers of whatever age, including the tremendous personal commitment of grandparents. It is vital that this addition should be accepted to bring about fair treatment for all.”
The Welfare Reform Bill Committee debated John Robertson MP’s amendment to the bill to introduce the NI Credit for working age grandparents. You can read the debate and the Minister’s positive response here.
29 Jan 09 – Daily Mail Grandparents Campaign
Commenting on the Daily Mail Grandparents Campaign Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said: “This story should not be about the sexuality of prospective adopters. What matters is the grandparents’s relationship with the children. All too often grandparents find themselves dismissed from children’s lives when in fact they can be fundamental roots and anchors for children, particularly in times of crisis. It is time that we really began to focus on and value the child’s relationship with whoever is important to them.” On the question of age discrimination she added: “We want to see forthcoming age discrimination legislation in the Equality Bill used to test some of these decisions. We will be pursuing the issue in parliament to ensure that children’s services are covered by the new laws.”
13 Jan 09 – MPs back call to end grandparent pensions penalty
A cross-party group of MPs has backed Grandparents Plus’ call to end the pensions penalty for working age grandparents who care for their grandchildren for 20 hours per week or more. You can download our press release and a copy of our Q&A briefing below, view the monitor signatures to the early day motion here. Former Work and Pensions Secretary, David Blunkett has now backed the campaign saying: “This is the missing part of the jigsaw in the radical re-shaping of pensions and the greater equality of provision which the Government started back in 2005 and which always intended to recognise carers of whatever age, including the tremendous personal commitment of grandparents. It is vital that this addition should be accepted to bring about fair treatment for all.” The Welfare Reform Bill Committee debated John Robertson MP’s amendment to the bill to introduce the NI Credit for working age grandparents. You can read the debate and the Minister’s positive response here.
