Working with parents
Grandparent carers need flexible working and financial support, says report
The UK is lagging behind other European countries in recognising the crucial role of grandparents, a new study claims.
According to the report Grandparenting in Europe, Britain's grandparents are undervalued and overlooked.
Research by Grandparents Plus, the Beth Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Gerontology at King's College London, found that while many EU countries have taken steps to support grandparents by allowing parents to transfer leave and for working grandparents to have time off if their grandchild is unwell, UK grandparents are left struggling to juggle work and care without any financial help.
Parental leave cannot be transferred to UK grandparents, they cannot be paid in childcare tax credits or vouchers and they have no right to request flexible working.While the report acknowledges that since April, grandparents have been able to claim National Insurance credits for the care they provide, it says they should not be taken for granted as cheap childcare.
Alongside the report, Grandparents Plus has also published results from its You Gov poll of 1,103 grandparents.
It found that three out of four grandparents who provide childcare and work full-time believe they should be paid through tax credits or childcare vouchers, and nearly half said they would work flexibly if it was an option.
Dr Karen Glaser from the Institute of Gerontology at King's College said, 'There needs to be more open debate on policies that can best help British families. The Government needs to explore other ways to recognise grandparents. While lots of grandparents are willing to look after their grandchildren, many are in paid work and have to take time off.'
