The problems of grandparent carers

200,000 family and friends carers, raising around 300,000 children in the UK, who would cost an estimated £12 billion each year if they were in the care system, are largely unrecognised by local and national government – and are set to be hit hard by welfare reform and spending cuts, according to a new report from charity Grandparents Plus.

Campaigners are concerned that the cuts will undermine grandparents’ ability to care resulting in more children ending up in the care system, at great cost to the tax payer.

‘What if we said no?’ is based on a new survey of over 250 family and friends carers, most of whom are grandparents, launched on 28 October) as part of a national lobby day where over 200 grandparent carers and their grandchildren from across the country head to Westminster to call for greater recognition and respect for the ‘forgotten army’ of carers. 

The survey reveals the challenges facing grandparent carers, including:

• Two thirds have a household income of under £300 a week
• 7% don’t receive any kind of benefit or allowance for looking after a child – not even child benefit
• 4 out of 10 (41%) are raising a child alone
• Over half (57%) gave up work or reduced their hours to take on care of a child. 
• 88% of the carers are under 65, half of them are under 55.
• 6 out of 10 have a chronic health condition or a disability

The report shows that children living in family and friends care are a particularly vulnerable group, having experienced parental alcohol or drug misuse, abuse, neglect or domestic violence, or the long-term illness of a parent.  Grandparents Plus has also found that 4 out of 10 of these children have difficulties at schools such as making friends and some experience bullying.

Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
“We share the Government’s vision for the Big Society.  And grandparents are at the forefront of it because society is built on the family.  But here are grandparents doing the right thing, picking up the pieces in times of crisis and all too often they take a financial hit and their health suffers as a result.”
“Our research shows that before they take on this caring role they are like any other grandparents.  But then a family crisis means they have to step in. It could happen to anyone.”
Campaigners are concerned that the cuts will undermine grandparents’ ability to care resulting in more children ending up in the care system, at great cost to the tax payer.

‘What if we said no?’ is based on a new survey of over 250 family and friends carers, most of whom are grandparents, launches today, (Thursday 28 October) as part of a national lobby day where over 200 grandparent carers and their grandchildren from across the country head to Westminster to call for greater recognition and respect for the ‘forgotten army’ of carers.  A separate event organised by The Poverty and Truth Commission is also taking place at the Scottish Parliament.

The survey reveals the challenges facing grandparent carers, including:

• Two thirds have a household income of under £300 a week
• 7% don’t receive any kind of benefit or allowance for looking after a child – not even child benefit
• 4 out of 10 (41%) are raising a child alone
• Over half (57%) gave up work or reduced their hours to take on care of a child. 
• 88% of the carers are under 65, half of them are under 55.
• 6 out of 10 have a chronic health condition or a disability

The report shows that children living in family and friends care are a particularly vulnerable group, having experienced parental alcohol or drug misuse, abuse, neglect or domestic violence, or the long-term illness of a parent.  Grandparents Plus has also found that 4 out of 10 of these children have difficulties at schools such as making friends and some experience bullying.

Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus said:
“We share the Government’s vision for the Big Society.  And grandparents are at the forefront of it because society is built on the family.  But here are grandparents doing the right thing, picking up the pieces in times of crisis and all too often they take a financial hit and their health suffers as a result.”
“Our research shows that before they take on this caring role they are like any other grandparents.  But then a family crisis means they have to step in. It could happen to anyone.”

Campaigners fear that the combined impact of welfare reform and cuts to local authority children’s services will hit grandparent carers particularly hard.  1 in 3 receive an allowance from their local authority but as this support is discretionary it is particularly vulnerable to spending cuts.  Cuts will also mean the loss of key support for the carers and the children they care for.
Campaigners are making a number of calls, including:

• Recognition for the vital role they play in looking after vulnerable children and keeping them out of the care system. As a minimum they deserve to be counted - we need official data on the number of families in this situation

• Protection from the impact of welfare reform and cuts to local authority children's services, which may hit family and friends carers and the children they are looking after (i.e. those who are outside the care system) particularly hard. 

Sam Smethers added:
“Making these families poorer will push some to breaking point and could result in more children going into the care system.  It could also discourage potential family and friends carers from coming forward to care. This would be neither good for children nor cost-effective.  We know this Government values the role of grandparents in family life and also wants to tackle the crisis in our care system, not add to it, so we urge ministers to consider ways in which they can protect these families from the adverse impact of benefit changes and spending cuts.”

Lynn Chesterman, Chief Executive of the Grandparents Association who are partners in the lobby day, said:
“There is no question that family and friends carers play a vital role in looking after vulnerable children and keeping them out of the care system.  But we are seriously concerned that because this group remains largely invisible, they will be overlooked when decisions about welfare reform and spending cuts are made.  This could lead to grandparents carers being unintentionally disadvantaged in what is already a very difficult economic climate for them.”

Jim Newell, a grandparent carer from Canterbury will be travelling to London for the lobby day.  He said:
 “My wife and I are the sole carers for our three grandchildren and when they initially came to live with us four years ago, I continued to work full-time.  Eventually I had to give up my job; it was far too stressful working and taking care of the children who were all under 3 at the time.
“I believe more needs to be done to recognise the important role grandparents play in caring for their children.  As it currently stands, we get little financial support and already live on a shoestring.  It is frightening to think what the implications of the spending cuts and welfare reforms might be.  I’m sure it’ll hit many grandparent carer families hard.”

The survey also reveals that:

• Almost half (48%) of family and friends carers are looking after a child with special needs or a disability

• 3 out of 10 (30%) are also caring for an elderly or disabled partner, relative or friend.

• 4 out of 10 have looked after the child/children for more than 5 years.

Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group, a national charity that provides advice to family and friends carers said:
“These carers are doing exactly what the government wants to encourage in the Big Society, namely stepping forward and putting the needs of vulnerable children above their own.   However, the impact of the proposed benefit changes and spending cuts will be to drive many into greater poverty and spiralling debt, with placements breaking down and children entering care after all.  There are specific things that Government could to do prevent this tragedy such as exempting family and friends carers from the proposed total cap on welfare benefits, as is proposed for families caring for disabled children.”