Keeping the family circle together
07/08/2008
When we think of the family circle we think of united families who love and support each other, helping to raise children within that loving circle. When family breakdown arises – through separation, divorce or a family feud – the family circle is broken and this leads to divisions between parents, grandparents and the wider family. The effects on the children are obvious: very many children who are victims of family breakdown, are forced to choose between parents, grandparents and family members, leading children into the instability of broken families.
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Plea from Grandparents Apart - please support our cause!
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"
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
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"
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
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
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?
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!
Grandparents are officially being encouraged by Ofsted to take a greater role in the education of their grandchildren.
Simple school attendance tips for grandparents
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
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"
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
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
The national charity Counsel and Care is celebrating the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren with a creative writing competition.
Grandparents meet up for support in Solihull
A monthly support group for grandparents in Solihull is holding its next meeting on March 1st.
