Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren miss out on financial and practical support, according to a report launched by the Family Rights Group this week.
Bereavement, ill-health or family breakdown can cause grandparents to step in to care for children. But these carers often miss out on available services, experience confusion over responsibilities, and lack legal security.
The report, which examined the situation of 180 grandparent carers, found that 85 per cent of those surveyed had made financial sacrifices, while 71 per cent of respondents had suffered financial hardship.
Confusion among health professionals, teachers and social services often arises over the division of responsibility between parents and grandparents, the report says.
The study also detailed a lack of information, language barriers, and isolation from mainstream services which often caused particular problems for grandparents from ethnic minority backgrounds. Almost half of the grandparents who were surveyed were having to deal with long-term health problems.
The Family Rights Group is calling for uniform financial provision for grandparent carers and a right to assessment of need and support.
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Second Time Around - A Survey of Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren
from 020 7923 2628.
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