Policy and Politics
Drink and drugs push grandparents into caring roles
Almost half of grandparents are raising their grandchildren because of parents' alcohol or drug misuse, new research suggests.
Nearly half of all grandparent carers say parents' alcoholism or drug addiction are the main reasons why they are bringing up children
The survey by Grandparents Plus revealed that parents’ drug or alcohol abuse is the single biggest reason why children are being raised by their grandparents. Other factors include parental abuse or neglect, imprisonment, illness or disability.
Forty-six per cent - or 117 of the 255 grandparents and other kinship carers who responded to the survey - said that parental substance misuse was the main reason, or one of the main reasons why they were bringing up the children.
Because of this, almost half of family and friends carers raising children due to parental drug or alcohol misuse are likely to be struggling financially, according to the research, with only four in ten receiving any financial support from their local authority.
Findings from the survey, which was launched at a seminar in the House of Lords, also showed that half of family and friend carers are looking after at least one child with a disability or special needs and that 53 per cent of carers have a chronic health condition or disability themselves.
Seven out of ten say they are dissatisfied with their experience of children’s social services. Of those who requested help from children’s services, only one in four said they got the help they needed.
Grandparents Plus, who have joined forces with The Children’s Society, Adfam, who provide family drug support, and drug prevention charity Mentor UK, are now calling for better access to services and support for family and friend carers and protection from the impact of welfare reform and spending cuts.
Sam Smethers, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, said, ‘We know that these carers are struggling in some of the most difficult and challenging circumstances. The children they care for are all too often forgotten and let down by service providers.
If they were in the care system it would cost £5.5 billion each year in care costs alone.’
She added, ‘We want to see their care recognised, valued and supported. But cuts to local authority budgets combined with welfare reform will penalise them and risk more children going into care. That makes no sense for the children, our overburdened care system or the taxpayer.’
Further information
www.grandparentsplus.org.uk
