Grandparents' charity wins kinship carer funding

The funding has been awarded to the charity by players of the People's Postcode Lottery.

Grandparents Plus will use the money to reach and help more kinship carers through its advice line and support network.

Figures suggest there are 3,000 children being raised by grandparents and other family members in the UK because their parents are unable to – often due to bereavement, serious illness, drug and alcohol misuse and imprisonment.

However, kinship carers often face isolation and are left to struggle alone, frequently without any financial or practical support from local authorities, says the charity.

Lucy Peake, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, said, ‘As a small national charity working to support a large and often invisible group of kinship carers, this funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will be transformational and enable us to reach and support more kinship carers and their families. Becoming a kinship carer is something that could happen to anyone - often suddenly - and too many carers don’t know who they can turn to for help. 

‘Becoming a kinship carer is life changing and carers tell us that our free support network and advice service are a lifeline. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery we will be able to offer more help to more kinship carers in desperate need of advice and a listening ear.’

Pam Kadir, kinship carer to her grandchildren, said, ‘Grandparents Plus has helped me in so many ways and it’s wonderful news that they have funding to reach more people in my situation. 

‘It’s much tougher bringing up my grandchildren than it was my own child but knowing Grandparents Plus is at the end of the phone has made such a difference to our lives.’