GAPs role is to support and campaign
for the rights of grandparents who are bringing up
grandchildren full time, and to support and campaign for all
Kinship carers .below how gap started.
Linda became a carer when her daughter was tragically
killed in a car crash, she was grief stricken and in mourning
when she asked the Social services for help. When they finally
called round she asked "why dont I get foster allowance "?
they answered "you can get it, but first you will have to put
them in care and then apply for them"---( and then the veiled
threat ) "but it doesnt mean that you will automatically
get them back " . Linda was so frightened that she gave up her
benefits and took on two jobs even though she was disabled
with Lupus and severe osteoathritis . Several years later a
friend of hers called her and told her that the social
services had brought her four grandchildren to live with her
as the mother couldnt cope,Linda went round and assumed that
things had changed since she became a carer, and that
allowances and care packages were now in place "I was
appalled to find out that it was just the same " she said "
The kids had just been dumped on her . She had no beds or
bedding no clothes or food ,and as the "support group" in our
area we tried our best to help her."
Sadly her friend (because of all the stress and
worry) ended up having several strokes and died aged 54
" I was so horrified and appalled that this poor woman had had
no help ,no care package,no support and no allowances
that I vowed to do something about it, " said Linda "so I
started Gap, and have campaigned for grandparents rights ever
since"“
Even though any changes in the law will not benefit linda
in anyway , she is determined that no other kinship carer
will go through what she and her friend went through .
If you can campaign or support gap in any way
log into the forum or visit facebook
“GAP aims to publicise the emotional, financial and
political implications that are faced by grandparents acting
as parents and all kinship carers.”
