Grandparents given advice on supporting families

Family Life: a grandparents' guide to supporting families through difficult times includes advice on how grandparents can balance work and caring responsibilities.

It is funded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families and is part of the Kids in the Middle campaign by the DCSF, which aims to promote better support for children when family conflict arises (News, 8 January, 2009).

It features ten top tips from agony aunt Denise Robertson and tackles dilemmas facing grandparents, such as how to help out when a new baby arrives, when parents part, and ways to approach difficult subjects like providing free care for grandchildren.

Sam Smethers, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, said, 'We've drawn on the experiences and views of a wide range of grandparents and experts to put together the best advice possible for grandparents. It is time to take their role seriously and give them the help they need.'

The guide was launched last week by children's secretary Ed Balls and Denise Robertson at London Early Years Foundation's (LEYF) Marsham Street Community Nursery, where weekly sessions cater for grandparents and their grandchildren

Mr Balls said, 'We are now giving grandparents the recognition they deserve and are working hard for those who are raising their grandchildren. Last week the Budget announced that from April 2011, those who are caring for a relative's child will no longer have their discretionary payments from local authorities taken into account when being assessed for housing benefit and council tax benefit. This will make the children and carers in these often vulnerable families better off.'

The guide is to be distributed to 3,500 children's centres across the country and is available free to all grandparents.

FURTHER INFORMATION

www.grandparentsplus.org.uk