Young children without relatives nearby can enjoy a visit from 'grandma', thanks to a unique scheme. Catherine Gaunt reports
The ad in the magazine read simply, 'Volunteer grandparents needed for young children'. Already a bit of a grandmother expert, Mrs Tayibat Salu decided to find out more. As she explains, 'When you have a family like mine and you see another, you want to help them. I have 13 grandchildren and I am hoping for more!' she tells me, laughing.
The volunteer grandparent scheme is run by WelCare, a 100-year-old voluntary church organisation operating in south-east London. One of the partners in Aylesbury Plus Sure Start, Southwark WelCare has been running the scheme for nearly two years and has just had funding confirmed for the next two. The premise behind the scheme is a simple one: for older people who have experience with children to visit and support families with young children.
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