Our Grandparents is the part of our campaign where we support grandparents living with the forced loss of their relationship with their grandchild.
Based on our Savanta survey in 2022, we estimate that an eighth of the population aged 45+ are prevented from forming, developing and sustaining a relationship with their grandchild. This is significant.
Our typologies describe the situations grandchildren and their grandparents find themselves in.
Following the launch of the 'Grandparents United for Children' report in November 2023, our wider grandparent campaign ‘Our Grandparents’ includes our initial support work following that plus a broader set of self-help activities.
Our Grandparents is now part of the Grandchildren's Policy & Rights Centre alongside the upcoming Midlands Model ‘Grandchildren First’ pilots to inform policy and practice change, a scheduled Lobby Your MP programme to secure legal change, our Grandchild-to-Grandchild Doodle Letters production, and of course we continue with both grandparent and grandchild-related webinars’ programmes.
Critical to our mission is that we work with other organisations that support grandparents and we work with grandparents on the ground in lobbying for change in law, policy and practice in relation to our grandchildren and ourselves.
How can you get involved? Please register for an MP lobbying pack here, share the word and attend our webinars, get involved in one of our pilots schemes, or contact us here.
Webinar series Winter 2025
Five webinars. Each 60 mins. No fee. Book online now.
Grandparent Support Group Leads' session (UK-wide)
Update on our work changing law, policy and practice will work. Meet the team, a Q&A, and how we need you to be involved.
Our Grandparents’ national campaign update & support for your grandparents
Thu 9 January 2025 at 530pm online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link will be made available the day before. Last booking 6pm
Policed grandparents: themes from lived experiences
Some grandparents are contacted by police to stop sending cards, gifts, notes, etc to their grandchildren: 150,000 in fact as per GUfC report. Some grandparents have been taken to court under harassment legislation.
This session goes through themes of police experience as identified by a grandparent focus group. We strongly advise your local police team's Inspector or Sergeant to attend with your MP
TBC Tue 18 February 2025
at 1000am online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link will be made available the day before. Last booking 6pm
The impact of ambiguous grief on grandparents
Losing a living person in your life i.e. your grandchild is known as an ambiguous loss. The ensuing ambiguous grief has significant impacts on both grandchild and grandparent.
This session will help you understand these impacts on you as a grandparent and what you can do about it.
Sat 18 January 2025 at 1130am online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link will be made available the day before. Last booking 6pm
Empty families?
Only-child adult child
Lost your only (adult) child? A specific session for those with no other children or grandchildren
This session will help you understand specific aspects of whole-family loss impact and what may help you cope.
Tue 28 January 2025 at 700pm online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link will be made available the day before. Last booking 6pm
Going to Family Court? Themes from grandparents' lived experiences
Some grandparents decide to or are able to proceed through the Family Court to secure some kind of contact with their grandchild. This session draws out themes from a grandparent focus group on what they found in their private law cases that influenced judicial decision-making as well as stumbling blocks.
Grandparents in the Family Court
Wed 5 February 2025 at 1130am online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link will be made available the day before. Last booking 6pm
Grandchild Winter Webinars
The Grandchildren's Policy & Rights Centre is also running a series of grandchild-focused Winter Webinars.
Book your places here
Letters of amends: writing to your adult child
Josh Coleman PhD, an expert in estrangement advises how to write a letter to your adult child to attempt reconciliation.
Using our own experiences of following his advice, this session will help you understand what a good 'letter of amends' looks like and how to write it
Wed 29 January 2025 at 1230pm online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link will be made available the day before. Last booking 6pm