Grandparent Carers
Supporting grandparents raising their grandchildren
Adfam Grandparent Carers Project
The Adfam Grandparent Carers project is looking at existing services in London and developing new ways of supporting grandparents who are bringing up their grandchildren because of parental substance misuse.
Grandparent carers have multiple issues and needs. They are carers two or even threefold - they care for their drug taking daughter or son, they raise their grandchildren, and often they also have to care for their partner - especially if they are elderly and/or in poor health.
They mourn not just their child lost to drugs, but also for what might have been when they retire. They often feel ashamed to ask for support and this adds to their overwhelming feelings of isolation.
Final project guide: Working with grandparents raising their grandchildren due to parental substance misuse: learning from the Adfam Grandparent Carers Project.
The final toolkit based on learning from this project is now available for free download - just click the link above.
The Adfam grandparent carers project aimed to:
- Reach out to families living in London where grandparents are raising grandchildren because of parental substance misuse
- Consult and work with grandparents living in London
- Work in partnership to ensure grandparents have access to appropriate, up-to-date and high quality services and support
- Signpost grandparents to specialist agencies and other sources of help
- Train professionals – social and care workers and drug and alcohol workers – on the complex needs of the grandparent carers they come into contact with through their work
- Share/ disseminate best practice and create resources that aim to guide and support grandparent carers as well as guide good practice for professionals
- Raise awareness of the issues and needs of this client group.
We are keen to hear from London partners. If you would like to work with Adfam to develop our work with and for grandparent carers please get in touch.
Resources from the Grandparent Carers Project:
- Overview article written by the project coordinator (pdf)
- List of known support groups in London
- Media coverage of kinship care
- Workshop slides
- Forgotten families report on grandparent carers
- Mind the Gap mentoring pack from Mentor UK
Useful links:
- Age UK (formerly Age Concern/Help the Aged)
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