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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Grandparent with the parents' role | Grandparent with the parents' role |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Nigel Pankhurst BBC News | By Nigel Pankhurst BBC News |
| Many families rely on grandparents to provide childcare | Many families rely on grandparents to provide childcare |
| Charity Grandparents Plus has called for big changes in the way grandparents who look after their grandchildren while the parents are at work are treated. | Charity Grandparents Plus has called for big changes in the way grandparents who look after their grandchildren while the parents are at work are treated. |
| Payments through tax credits and "granny holidays" if they are in work are just two of the suggestions made in a report. | Payments through tax credits and "granny holidays" if they are in work are just two of the suggestions made in a report. |
| Lorraine Green is typical of many grandparents - while the parents are at work she is the one with the responsibility of looking after the grandchildren. | Lorraine Green is typical of many grandparents - while the parents are at work she is the one with the responsibility of looking after the grandchildren. |
| Lorraine takes on the parental role from about 7.30am to 5.30pm, five days a week. She takes Emily, eight, and Michael, four, to school and picks them up, and has two-year-old James all day. | Lorraine takes on the parental role from about 7.30am to 5.30pm, five days a week. She takes Emily, eight, and Michael, four, to school and picks them up, and has two-year-old James all day. |
| The 60-year-old from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, says there is simply no alternative for her daughter and son-in-law - and that the situation is far from uncommon. | The 60-year-old from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, says there is simply no alternative for her daughter and son-in-law - and that the situation is far from uncommon. |
| "They're not in a position financially to pay out for childcare. If you go up to the school the vast majority of people picking people up are grandparents," she said. | "They're not in a position financially to pay out for childcare. If you go up to the school the vast majority of people picking people up are grandparents," she said. |
| "They're both in work but the way the situation is, there's no way of them giving up work. There's no other way round it. I have to do what I do." | "They're both in work but the way the situation is, there's no way of them giving up work. There's no other way round it. I have to do what I do." |
| 'Grandparents suffering' | 'Grandparents suffering' |
| And while Lorraine is happy to take on the task for the sake of her family, she says it is not without its drawbacks. | And while Lorraine is happy to take on the task for the sake of her family, she says it is not without its drawbacks. |
| "There's no chance I could get a job. I do make time for other things outside the family but it does have a big effect on your time and it's an added expense that we've taken on - we have to feed the children and so on - but we don't begrudge what we do," she said. | "There's no chance I could get a job. I do make time for other things outside the family but it does have a big effect on your time and it's an added expense that we've taken on - we have to feed the children and so on - but we don't begrudge what we do," she said. |
| Grandparents definitely feel undervalued and unrecognised. I do believe we're taken for granted by the government and society in general Grandparent Lorraine Green Grandparenting 'should be paid' class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6257"> Send us your comments | |
| Grandparents Plus, a charity that aims to promote the role of grandparents in children's lives, has expressed its concern about what it says is a lack of financial support for those relatives who take on such a role. | Grandparents Plus, a charity that aims to promote the role of grandparents in children's lives, has expressed its concern about what it says is a lack of financial support for those relatives who take on such a role. |
| It says grandparents are taking an increasing part in the care of their grandchildren, especially as the economic downturn continues to bite. | It says grandparents are taking an increasing part in the care of their grandchildren, especially as the economic downturn continues to bite. |
| Lorraine agrees with the charity that the contribution of grandparents is undervalued and often goes unrecognised. | Lorraine agrees with the charity that the contribution of grandparents is undervalued and often goes unrecognised. |
| 'Taken for granted' | 'Taken for granted' |
| She said: "I think all grandparents should have some remuneration for caring for their grandchildren. | She said: "I think all grandparents should have some remuneration for caring for their grandchildren. |
| "Without what they do there would be a lot more parents claiming benefits, because they would have to look after their children instead of working. | "Without what they do there would be a lot more parents claiming benefits, because they would have to look after their children instead of working. |
| "I do feel aggrieved about that but I wouldn't have it any other way because I don't want my grandchildren to suffer. | "I do feel aggrieved about that but I wouldn't have it any other way because I don't want my grandchildren to suffer. |
| "Grandparents definitely feel undervalued and unrecognised. I do believe we're taken for granted by the government and society in general." | "Grandparents definitely feel undervalued and unrecognised. I do believe we're taken for granted by the government and society in general." |
| And Lorraine believes something must be done to give what she sees as a fairer deal for grandparents. | And Lorraine believes something must be done to give what she sees as a fairer deal for grandparents. |
| She said: "I would like to see some sort of legislation whereby grandparents are recognised and given the same sort of remuneration as foster parents because we're doing the same sort of job." | She said: "I would like to see some sort of legislation whereby grandparents are recognised and given the same sort of remuneration as foster parents because we're doing the same sort of job." |