Mature Times - Grandparents Rights

Help at hand for 'Greys' rearing the UKs young

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:31:58 +0100

With Grandparents Day on October 5th, here are some of the new and very helpful websites and information lines available for the UK's estimated 300,000 grandparents and extended family members who are raising their grandchildren for a variety of reasons. Sadly, the vital role they play is frequently ignored by politicians, and many struggle to raise grandchildren on a pension, coping with ill health and turmoil in the wider family. Many feel isolated and stigmatised, whilst others find great joy in passing down old traditions - and learning new tricks to keep up with the times.

Keeping the family circle together

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:29:46 +0100

Broken families have been blamed for the rise in anti-social behaviour and crime, and young people staying locked into welfare rather than making their way in life. So what’s the solution? Pamela Wilson, Chairwoman of Grandparents Action Group UK maintains that at least part of the responsibility must lie with the way that Family Courts operate, and makes suggestions on a better way forward.

Plea from Grandparents Apart - please support our cause!

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:26:09 +0100

In our relatively short period of existence, Grandparents Apart have raised the profile of grandparents by lobbying all the UK governments and by issuing press releases through television, radio and magazines. We now ask you to help us continue this work by becoming a member.

"We want access to our grandkids"

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:39:59 +0100

Campaigners are asking for YOUR support to give grandparents legal access to their grandchildren if they are taken into care or should tragedy strike the parents.

One in six grandparents now babysitting 40 hours a week

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:34:28 +0100

New research shows that grandparents spend on average over 17 hours a month and £20 per day looking after their grandchildren – and one in six spend the equivalent of a week’s full time employment per month caring for grandchildren.

Join our campaign to protect "forgotten children"

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:20:45 +0000

Please can your readers help us to make the government aware of the plight of the forgotten children of drug and alcohol abusers, who are caught in a protection trap where no-one can help them? We are campaigning for the right of non-resident parents and grandparents to protect them - and a petition is presently being considered by the Scottish Government.

"Call your grandparents" appeal

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:32:29 +0100

Help the Aged is calling on the public to contact their grandparents this Grandparent’s Day. In the lead up to Grandparent’s Day, on Saturday 22nd September, a survey by Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust reveals around 2.5 million (1 in 5) grandparents go for more than a month without seeing their grandchildren.

Why abused children need their grandparents

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:21:58 +0100

Grandparents, argues Jimmy Deuchars, know their own children and have the special insight as to how they could treat their grandchildren, especially in drug and alcohol danger homes.

Who is looking after the children?

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:43:38 +0100

An article appeared in the Scotsman on August 31st, with the alarming report about deaths caused by drugs. It seem that fatalities in children from drug abuse has leapt up by 37% - with at least one death every day in Scotland.

It's back to school - for grandparents!

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:42:35 +0100

Grandparents are officially being encouraged by Ofsted to take a greater role in the education of their grandchildren.

Simple school attendance tips for grandparents

Wed, 02 May 2007 11:35:53 +0100

Some 10 million grandparents in the UK are responsible for making sure their grandchildren attend school. But, sadly, around 6.68% of kids miss school regularly.

As part of the government's "Every Lesson Counts" campaign, Dr Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley NHS Hospitals Trust has put together a simple six-point plans specifically for grandparents to make mornings run smoothly and kids more engaged at school.

Grandparents get tough in Scotland

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:32:25 +0100

Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland (GASH) is campaigning to strike a blow for greater respect for grandparents' rights in Scotland.

"Please sign our Grandparents Rights petition"

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:43:59 +0100

Will you support a reader's petition to Downing Street to amend family law to grant legal rights to grandparents?

Modern technology unites the generations

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:35:05 +0000

An unusual survey of over 230 grandchildren commissioned by Girlings Retirement Options has revealed that mobile phones are a key method of communicating with their grandparents. Which means that modern technology appears to be uniting relations between generations - not dividing them.

Writing competition celebrates grandparents' and grandchildren's special relationship

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:32:04 +0000

The national charity Counsel and Care is celebrating the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren with a creative writing competition.