Grandparent carers struggling below the poverty line

Children and Young People Now report that more than one in three grandparent carers looking after children are living below the poverty line, according to interviews with 100 family and friends (the majority of whom are grandparents) carried out as part of research by Grandparents Plus.

According to the findings, 38 per cent of carers are on an income of less than £200 a week, and two-thirds had not received any support from social care services and one in five stated they currently receive not benefits or allowances.

As a result of the findings, Grandparents Plus is joining forces with Family Rights Group, The Grandparents' Association and other members of the Kinship Care Alliance to lobby Parliament this Wednesday. The lobby group will call for greater recognition, respect and reward for family and friends carers.

Are you a grandparent carer? If so, please contact us as we are setting up a support network for grandparents in Cambridgeshire who are carers of children with additional needs or a disability.