GPA support group update for Carer Groups

GPA support group update for Carer Groups

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 09:44

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" My grandaughter was sent to me in a taxi by her mother."

Welcome to all our support group leaders and members page.

In recent conversations with various groups, we were told that members would love to know more about what is going on in our organisation especially with regards to bringing up grandchildren fulltime (kinship care). Well, we listened. We have introduced a new section for support groups called 'GPA support group update for Carer Groups'. This can be printed from this web page and can be taken to your meetings. You can photocopy the printed page to circulated to your group members which is especially important when members have no online access.

During the year 2011-2012 we received 8,348 calls to our Information & Support Line. 2,376 of these calls represented care calls whilst 262 represented welfare benefit calls. We also had 647 calls to our welfare benefit line.

PREVIOUS UPDATES - Here you will find a summary of previous updates for Kinship Care Grandparents.

CURRENT UPDATE - Below you will find a summary of just some of the work that the Grandparents' Association is doing for Kinship Care Grandparents.

MAY 2013

01.05.13 and 03.05.13 - FREE London Workshops for grandparents looking after a grandhcild during the week or full time.

ARE YOU A GRANDPARENT?
Do you look after your grandchild during the week or full time?

Would you like to learn more about the way they learn, coping with any behaviour issues, and how to bring up a happy confident child?

We are offering two workshops run by Triple P and the Grandparents’ ‘Association. These workshops are free, collect a “Canparenting” voucher from any Camden branches of Boots, or request a voucher when booking.

***A crèche will be provided if needed, and light refreshments***
***Limited places - Ring or e-mail to book a place. ***

Time: 10.00am -12.00pm.
Dates: Wednesday 1st May and Friday 3rd May.
WORKSHOP VENUE:
Coramfields Children’s Centre,
93 Guilford Street,
London
WC1N 1DN

DOWNLOAD A POSTER for more information

For more information and to book a place, call Gail at Coramfields on: 0203 3842205 or Judith on 07805 959154 or email judith.howells@grandparents-association.org.uk

APRIL 2013

Camarthenshire Grandparents hold first drop in surgery
The first drop in surgery for any Carmarthenshire grandparents who have become full-time carers of their grandchildren will be on the:

DATE: 15th May 10 am -12 noon.
Light refreshments will be provided.
VENUE: At the 1 Stop Office,
23 Bridge Street Carmarthen
SA31 3JS

DOWNLOAD A POSTER for more information

For details contact:
Judith Howells on: 07805959154 or email judith.howells@grandparents-association.org.uk

MARCH 2013

Landmark Kinship Care Decision
In a landmark decision, Mrs X, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has won a long legal battle against Tower Hamlets, who were deemed to have discriminated against Family and Friends Foster Carers. more

Children and Families Bill
The Children and Families Bill is currently being presented in the House of Commons and has had two readings to date. The element of most interest to Grandparents with contact issues is the Child Arrangement Orders.

The Children and Families Bill, includes reforms to adoption, family justice, provisions for children in care, the role of the Children' Commissioner and an overhaul of Special Educational Needs and plans to introduce childminders agencies. Family justice clauses in the Bill seek to remove delays and ensure that the children's best interests are at the heart of decision-making by:

•   tackling court delays in care cases, ensuring they focus on the essentials rather than unnecessary evidence or bureaucratic delay;
•   sending a clear message to separated parents that courts will take account of the principle that both should be involved in their children's lives where that is safe and consistent with the child's welfare;
•   introducing new 'child arrangement orders' which will focus parents on the child's needs rather than their own 'rights' and making family mediation a requirement in many cases.

Child arrangements orders
(1) Section 8(1) of the Children Act 1989 is amended as follows.
(2) Omit the definitions of “contact order” and “residence order”.
(3) After “In this Act—” insert— “child arrangements order” means an order regulating arrangements relating to any of the following—
     (a) with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and
     (b) when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person;”.
(4) Schedule 2 (amendments relating to child arrangements orders) has effect.

The Children and Families Bill is an important step in the reform of the the family justice system and implements commitments made by the Government in response to the Family Justice Review.

The Grandparents' Association has been looking carefully at the reforms to see their impact. We need you to write to your MP to express your concerns about some of the clauses in the Children & Families Bill.The combined effect of some of the clauses may exclude family members in some situations from raising children who cannot live with their parents.

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR MP AND LET HIM/HER KNOW YOUR CONCERNS - Download our template letter to help you do this.

FEBRUARY 2013

More great childcare - What do you think about the government’s plans to expand the ratio of staff and childminders to the number of babies and young children they care for in a bid to increase the availability of childcare? HAVE YOUR SAY! Consultation deadline 23.03.13

WELFARE BENEFITS SURVEY - We need to know how the proposed Welfare Benefit changes may impact on you and your family?

We are following up on complaints from grandparents who may be affected by the Welfare Benefit proposed changes. We have heard that a number of grandparents raising a grandchild will be forced to move from income support or other benefits to Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) because their youngest child is now 5 years old. Some have been asked to attend 'work' shops such as 'Shaw Trust'. Some have had to pay for childcare to attend.

Please can you help us gather some evidence and complete this short survey to see just how wide spread this problem is? If we have enough responses we will provide a template letter to write to MP's and highlight this issue for grandparents providing full time care.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

NEW ARTICLES ON OUR SITE

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN A GROUP

We have included the latest information for parents on this new framework as it is very comprehensive and will be of help to any grandparent childcaring their young grandchildren. It contains information on how to help your grandchild learn and flourish. Why not share it with the parents just in case they have not received this Guide.

Keep us up to date
Don't forget to update us with any activity you are doing. If you are campaigning locally, please do let us know so we can keep track of media enquiries and latest news.