Leeds Project Manager attending Conservative Party conference 21.04.10 - A Celebration of Grandparents - In memory of Peter Lee - The Temple Church - 14.30pm
1.04.10 - Launch of Family Life
The Grandparents' Association as one of the members of the advisory board working on Family Life (a granny guide - to support crucial roles of grandparents) is delighted to be associated with this publication launched today by Grandparents Plus.
* The site is currently funded by the DCSF as part of the Parent Know How project - which focuses on finding innovative ways to support families. In the long term, the project will be commercially self-supporting.
15.12.09 - Lynn Chesterman CE of Grandparents Association' met with the Policy Unit at 10 Downing St to discuss all issues that grandparents contact The Grandparents' Association for inc contact, residence and childcare. BAAF, Fostering Network, FRG, The Grandparents' Association and Grandparents Plus on behalf of the Kinship Care Alliance met with Government Ministers (Dawn Primarolo, Helen Goodman and Baroness Morgan ) about family and friends care. There was considerable interest in aspects of the Kinship Care Alliance's work.
7 JULY 2009 Attending Conservative Party Evidence Event , House of Commons
5 JULY 2009* PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK - Party in Paradise on Sunday 5th July Grandparents will be celebrating Grandparents Day with us at Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire.
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Below are a selection of some articles from a variety of sources.
We will be adding to these regularly so please revisit us soon!
ARTICLES in 2010
03.08.10 PRESS RELEASE - INTERDISCIPLINARY ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN JOINT POSITION STATEMENT ON THE DELIVERY OF COURT SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS DOWNLOAD THE JOINT POSITION STATEMENT for DELIVERY OF COURT SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS – INTERDISCIPLINARY ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN
A powerful Alliance of eighteen legal, medical and child care organisations have come together to issue the attached joint position statement which sets out their grave concerns about the services currently being provided by the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). The Alliance questions whether the CAFCASS model of service delivery is either the most effective in terms of outcomes for the vulnerable children involved or the most cost effective use of all the available resources both human and financial. This week’s publication of the results of a National Audit Office review of CAFCASS and the announcement of the referral to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee reinforces the concerns of the Alliance. The Alliance calls on the Government to act quickly as matters are now too serious to await the outcome of the forthcoming Family Justice Review. The Alliance offers to assist the Government in initiating a constructive exploration of possible alternative arrangements which do not pose a serious threat to the statutory framework protecting children’s welfare and rights - painstakingly developed through research and evidence-based clinical practice over the last four decades.
NOTES TO EDITORS For media enquiries contact: NAGALRO - ALISON PADDLE (Press Officer) 01539 737 232 (mobile 07789 252453) or NAGALRO office, Karen Harris - 01372 818504, or ALC - BARBARA HOPKIN (Press Officer) (m) 07970 620156, or ALC office, Julia Higgins - 0208 224 7071
17.06.10 Why it's time for families to come first - by NICK CLEGG, Deputy PM Grandparents are to get sweeping legal rights as part of government plans to put ‘strong, stable and loving families’ back at the heart of British life. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says it is ‘crazy’ that millions of grandparents lose contact with their grandchildren after a family separation or divorce. Ministers now plan to change the law to give greater access rights to grandparents when couples split. Mr Clegg, has set out his proposals in a speech on the family today.
‘We are looking at how to provide greater access rights to non-resident parents and grandparents when couples separate.’ "When marriages and relationships break down, a child’s whole world can collapse too. Strong, stable and loving families are the cornerstone of a happy childhood. We all know the role grandparents can play in helping children through these difficult times. But often grandparents don’t feel empowered to step in. That’s crazy, and it needs to change. That’s why today we are announcing a new Childhood and Families Task Force composed of senior ministers, chaired by the Prime Minister, to take action to remove some of the biggest hurdles that millions of families face every day."
The Task Force will also work on making parental leave much more flexible, allowing parents to divvy the time up to better suit their needs, and allowing fathers to take a much more hands on role with their children when they’re young.
08.06.10 UK is lagging behind other countries in recognising crucial role of grandparents.
Lynn Chesterman CE of The Grandparents' Association says:
"The Grandparents’ Association, the only national membership organisation for grandparents, supports the findings of Grandparents Plus. However grandchildren's voices are often ignored and Children's Voices, is to be launched by The Grandparents Association on 1 July which will add to these findings by listening to the children.”
If you would like to reserve a copy of the Childrens Voices publication or know more contact
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28.05.10 - Queen’s Speech highlights key children’s rights issues in the following Bills being considered in the 2010/11 Parliamentary session [opens PDF]
12.05.10 - Michael Gove MP is the new Secretary of State for Education. The Department for Education was formed on 12 May 2010 and is responsible for education and children's services.
11.05.10 - BBC News - Grandmother wins Kent County Council foster care ruling Comment from Grandparents-Association - The Grandparents’ Association was pleased to hear of this verdict as we know that thousands of grandparents step in to care for their grandchildren. Often this is at a crisis point or with little notice as the only alternative is for the child to go into local authority care. These grandparents are often given little emotional or financial support and at a time when they had expected, and planned for, no responsibilities for dependants they find themselves struggling to survive and give their grandchildren the care they deserve. We get around 50 calls a month to our welfare benefits service from carer grandparents fighting to get some financial support and we have been campaigning for the government to give better recognition and support to carer grandparents. This could be a landmark ruling and we are disappointed Kent County Council is appealing but will be following this case closely. Lynn Chesterman CE
19.02.10 - Daily Mail Online Grandparents are feeling the strain New report out by BeGrand.net - a website for grandparents of who The Grandparents' Association is a partner
20.01.10 - DCSF - Families and Relationships Green Paper ** for a quick summary view page 114 of the download Chapter 6 - "Services have an important role in supporting families and good family relationships. Key to this is making sure they are welcoming — not just to mothers and fathers but also to grandparents and all family members who may play a significant role in a child’s life. Published today by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP – download for free
12.01.10- By Hannah Richardson - Education and family reporter, BBC News Parents and families going through separation and relationship breakdown are to be promised more support, in plans expected from the government. The proposals, due next week, will make families a key election issue.....Article continues via: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8452964.stm
Below are a selection of some articles from a variety of sources. 
