Archive News 2012

Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 10:33

DECEMBER 2012

VISIT OUR FORUM CLINIC WEEK 10th-15th DECEMBER - Are you a grandparent of a disabled grandchild or do you know someone who is?
Take a look at the questions and answers in our childcare forum

NOVEMBER 2012

29.11.12 - NEWS RELEASE - Help for separating parents at their fingertips as new web app launches
If you're a grandparent and your grandchild's parents are splitting up, you're probably thinking about how you can help them. Now you can get help and support for families who are going through divorce or separation. More

New Vice President
We are delighted to announce that Robert Halfon MP has agreed to join us as Vice President. He joins the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP - Vice President, Tim Loughton MP - Vice President, Lord Christopher Northbourne -Vice President, Andrew Percy MP , Baroness Hughes - Vice President, Peter Harris - Vice President and Elizabeth Butler-Sloss GBE -President.

Evening Helpline update: Unfortunately our Thursday evening sessions have stopped temporarily due to a shortage of evening helpline volunteers. If you would like to become a helpline volunteer, we would love to hear from you. Please call Grant on 01279 428040.

Roundtable Commission on childcare
The Grandparents' Association attended the Roundtable Commission on Childcare chaired by Meg Hillier MP. This was also attended by Sharon Hodgson Shadow Cabinet Minister. The meeting brought together a number of childcare providers. The Grandparents' Association was the only organisation present pushing childcare up the agenda for those grandparents who provide informal childcare, recognising how much grandparents do to support the family.

New Parliamentary Advisory Group - First meeting held
Lynn Chesterman CE attended the first new cross party Parliamentary Advisory Group. The group was chaired by Baroness Massey, and is made up of peers and MPs with an interest in family and friends care. This group was set up in response to requests by the Kinship Care Alliance (KCA) by Tim Loughton MP. The KCA aims are to increase awareness about, and support for, children in family and friends care, and to highlight the importance of this option for children who cannot live with their parents.

New Vice President
We are delighted to announce that Tim Loughton MP has agreed to join us as Vice President. He joins the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP - Vice President, Lord Christopher Northbourne -Vice President, Andrew Percy MP, Baroness Hughes - Vice President, Peter Harris - Vice President and Elizabeth Butler-Sloss GBE -President.

OCTOBER 2012

29.10.12 - New App for Grandparents launches at the House of Commons

New Parliamentary Advisory Group
Lynn Chesterman CE has been invited to be a member of the new cross party Parliamentary Advisory Group, due to hold its first meeting in October. The group will be made up of peers and MPs with an interest in family and friends care. This group was set up in response to requests by the Kinship Care Alliance (KCA) by Tim Loughton MP. The KCA aims are to increase awareness about, and support for, children in family and friends care, and to highlight the importance of this option for children who cannot live with their parents.

Ballot Bill - John Hemmings MP
Lynn Chesterman CE is working with John Hemmings MP who is trying to get a Childrens and Families Bill adopted through the house in the private members' bills - ballot vote. He has agreed to include getting rid of the application to leave requirement for grandparents. Watch this space for an update!

SEPTEMBER

Evening Helpline update: Following feedback from our recent pilot evening helpline sessions, we will be running Thursday evening helpline sessions only from 6.30pm to 8pm.

AUGUST 2012

Pilot evening helpline session - Thursdays added. (SEE UPDATE IN SEPTEMBER)
Due to the popularity of our Wednesday sessions, we are now also piloting an evening session on the helpline every Thursday from 6.30pm to 8pm. This is available to anyone with queries relating to No Contact and Kinship Care, as well some more general grandparenting queries. The weekly sessions will be manned by a small team, so please bear with us if you are trying to get through. We hope to add further evening sessions if there is a need. Alternatively you can email advice@grandparents-association.org.uk or call Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm on 0845 4349585

New Pilot Evening sessions on helpline - Wednesdays
We are piloting an evening session on the helpline every Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8pm. This is available to anyone with queries relating to No Contact and Kinship Care, as well some more general grandparenting queries. The weekly session will be manned by a small team, so please bear with us if you are trying to get through. We hope to add further evening sessions if there is a need. Alternatively you can email advice@grandparents-association.org.ukor call Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm on 0845 4349585

JULY 2012

Family Justice Bill
At the request of John Hemmings MP Lynn Chesterman CE and Hashi Syedain our Social Policy Officer attended Portcullis House for input into the Family Justice Bill which is hoped to be debated in the the house on the 26 October.

09.07.12 - GPA Hubs initiative highlighted in Nursery World
Nursery'sWorld EYFS Guide - Children's centres recognised for supporting grandparent carers
Katy Morton, 09 July 2012, 12:00am 

JUNE 2012

Family Law Seminar - Invitation only event
The Grandparents' Association were invited to attend a Family Law Seminar on Managing Cases of Children Resistant to Parental Contact and Alientated Children - International & UK Experiences.

22 June 2012 - The Kinship Care Alliance (KCA) responds to the change to welfare benefits for kinship carers who look after children unable to live with their parents.
The Grandparents' Association as part of the Kinship Care Alliance welcomes the announcement by Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, of a year’s exemption from conditionality under Universal Credit for grandparents, older siblings, aunts and uncles and other relatives and friends (kinship) carers who are taking on the responsibility for bringing up children who are unable to live with their parents.

UPDATE: Read the Supreme Court Case Hearing

June 2012 - Supreme Court Case
The Chief Executive Lynn Chesterman has been involved in a groundbreaking Supreme Court case which could become case law and affect thousands of grandparents. At this time, an outcome is awaited but what we can tell you is that:

• 5 Law Lords heard the case in the Supreme Court in July.
• The local authority and the grandparents were represented and two intervenors were involved - CAFCASS and The Grandparents' Association(GPA) .
• The Grandparents were represented by Charles Hale a barrister from 4 Paper Buildings, Temple, London who took on the case pro bono with colleagues.
• Francesca Cozens of Nockolds LLP (who is a member of their Family team) and Trustee of the Grandparents’ Association, and Lynn Chesterman, Chief Executive of The Grandparents Association attended.
• An outcome is awaited and we will keep you posted.

19 June 2012 - Childcare review launched as nursery reforms urged
Last updated at 06:00 By Hannah Richardson BBC News education and family reporter

Downing Street is launching a review of childcare and child-minding to see how it can be made more affordable by cutting red tape. Government research suggests six out of 10 parents feel there is insufficient childcare in their area. More

What do you think? Let us know your views.

19.06.12 - New support programme for children affected by family breakdown launches this week More

a kidspace provides individual support and workshops and is a new support programme for children affected by family breakdown.

18.06.12 - Annual Conference 2012 - Legal & General, One Coleman Street, London. Annual Conference 2012 - “The importance of being a grandparent”

MAY 2012

18.05.12 - Prime Minister announces support for families 

APRIL 2012

02.04.12 - A call for responses to the government’s plans to increasing Parental and Community Involvement in Sure Start Children’s Centres - Have your say

FEBRUARY 2012

07.02.12 NATIONAL PETITION UPDATE - "Grandchildren should have the right to know and have contact with their grandparents."

Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, has responded, on behalf of the Prime Minister, to the petition presented at 10 Downing Street on the 8th December 2011. MORE 

06.02.12 - Family Justice Review Update

2012 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Grandparents' Association. Whilst much has changed within the organisation during the last 25 years, sadly very little has changed within the law.

We have finally had a response to the Family Justice Review. Once again we have warm words and no action.

Please read the response below, then download a template to send to your MP, The Prime Minister David Cameron, Tim Loughton MP Parliamentary Under secreatry of State for Children and Families, and Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP.

You can read the Family Justice Review recommendation here
Download a template to send to your MP, The Prime Minister David Cameron, Tim Loughton MP Parliamentary Under secreatry of State for Children and Families, and Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP.

It would help to know if you have responded. Please email us so we can keep a record.

06.02.12 - Government response to the Family Justice Review

JANUARY 2012

The Grandparents' Association, is a national charity which supports all grandparents and their families. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Grandparents' Association. We not only celebrate the joys of grandparenting, but our helpline and our expert advice is there to help you, whatever your problem.

• Become a member and join grandparents from all over the country
• Ring our helpline or contact our welfare benefits advisors
• Join a Grandparents' Association support group near you
  

The Grandparents' Association works with government, local authorities and campaigns with key charities to raise awareness of the needs of grandparents.

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