http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Grandparents As Parents en http://backend.userland.com/rss http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2717#2717 2717@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: POST QUESTIONS HERE!!! Message: Dear Mr PriestleyMy Grandson was placed in our care following a child in need meeting on 17th may this year. We are receiving £57.60 per week and that was backdated from 1st July? I have been trying for an answer as to why the allowance is so low and also to clarify My Grandsons status as a looked after child but KCC social services are trying to hang this out maybe until December when my Grandson reaches 16. They are also stating that we are better off than most Grandparents and the allowance is on a scale regarding the childs needs.Answer from Ridly & HallNigel priestley asks are you in Kent ?. and goes on to say " If he was placed by KCC they have an obligation to assess the carers as Grandparents and pay the appropriate allowance. We need  contact details so that we can advise how to proceed. or tell Angela to telephone us on   01484 538 421 " Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:08:52 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2629#2629 2629@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Clackmannanshire Kinship Carers Message: Clackmannanshire Kinship CarersClacks Kinship Carers are a group who came together early 2010 in response to Clackmannanshire Council's 67% cuts to the kinship allowance received by carers.  Since then the group has swelled in numbers and we are receiving new contacts all the time. We intend to campaign at two specific levels; locally and nationally to ensure that Kinship Carers and the vulnerable children they look after are supported in every way possible to ensure a happy outcome. If you need help and support and you live in the Central Scotland area, please call Secretary Kathleen Martin 01259 219439 or 07748238445. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:17:52 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2627#2627 2627@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: thanks for the links Message: to everyone who does this website thanks for all the help and info its really helped me as i lost contact with two grandkids and took on the care of three more and because of your links with the custody minefield i managed to find my grandchildren and because of the help of the solicitor from Ridley and hall i managed to get more money its been great and i will tell everyone i know that are carers to join your site ;;;;;and its free ;;;;how do you afford to run it all when you wont even accept donations your a star linda wish there was more like you    from tilly xxx Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:24:12 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2626#2626 2626@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Special Guardianship order Message: Thanks for the info Its really come in useful and also its been great to be able to ask questions to the solicitor Nigel priestley he has really helped me and got me back payments what a great site  really helpful going to join your facebook as well                                          tilly x Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:20:01 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2625#2625 2625@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: lots of friends thanks x Message: Dear all I have been on your facebook site and found lots of new friends in my area and all over the UK I now have my own facebook and joining yours was so east  just clicked on friends thanks again we now know we are not alone xxxx Karen x Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:43:17 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2624#2624 2624@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Facebook link Message: Dear gap members Thankyou for letting me join and go on facebook I have ended up finding several friends in my area and hundreds of grandparent carers all over the UK its GREAT !!!!! im so glad i found you Ive made so many new friends Bless you all  xxxx Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:40:58 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2621#2621 2621@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: help advice needed Message: Just got my two grandkids shes run away again so social services who had them for two months brought them to me Now what should I do should I get a residence order or guardian order or what Im completely confused please help luv Mavis xxxxx Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:05:45 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2620#2620 2620@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: new member looking for friends Message: Hello granny smith If you want go to our facebook site @http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grandparents-as-Parents/353979264687and if you are on facebook you can then chat to all our facebook friends over 250 grandparent carers    best wishes Linda ps its really easy to join facebook just google it for the links x Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:46:54 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2619#2619 2619@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: new member looking for friends Message: HY everyone I have my three grandsons and am looking for friends and chat so I dont feel so alone and isolated  what other groups do you have where we can chat real time let me know grannysmith xxxx Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:38:35 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2618#2618 2618@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Can you get financial help? Message: Taking over the full time care of your grandchildren can dramatically alter your financial outlook.Retirement is often thought of as a time to sit back and enjoy your spare time and any available cash you might have. Funds which were previously set aside for holidays and leisure may now be allocated to the grandchildren’s financial welfare.Adding up the costsThere is no doubt that alongside all the love they bring, raising children is expensive. There are the everyday expenses such as food, clothing and increased domestic bills to more specific costs relating to funding children’s education through university. It’s a sensible precaution therefore, to take stock of your financial situation, taking account of all assets including savings, investments and property against the projected financial cost of bring up children.Can you get financial help?In becoming responsible for looking after your grandchildren, your situation has changed considerably and it is always worth contacting the Benefits Agency to see if there are any benefits you may be entitled to. Make an appointment at your local Benefits Agency and talk it through with an advisor. If your grandchildren are residing with you permanently, you may well be entitled to Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit.You can check your entitlement on the Internet at www.hmrc.gov.uk or ring their dedicated Child Benefit Line on 0845 302 1444 or 0845 302 1474 (text phone) 8am – 8pm 7 days per week.read more @ http://www.hartnellchanot.co.uk/just-gr … pport.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:05:53 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2617#2617 2617@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Grandparents and Residence Orders Message: he term custody doesn't exist anymore - it is now known as a 'Residence Order'. The only manner in which you can obtain Parental Responsibility for your grandchildren is by obtaining a Residence Order (formerly known as Custody) or Special Guardianship Order.What does Parental Responsibility mean?Mother’s automatically have Parental Responsibility for their children along with the father if he was married to the mother. Parental Responsibility has also been given to unmarried fathers whose name was on the birth certificate from 1st December 2003 onwards.Parental Responsibility means you are responsible for the child’s welfare and make all the major decisions involved in their upbringing. Following family breakdown, grandparents can find themselves caring for grandchildren and eventually taking over the parental role completely although, grandparents themselves do not automatically have Parental Responsibility, and the only manner in which you can obtain Parental Responsibility for your grandchildren is by a Residence Order or Special Guardianship Order..Residence OrdersIf you are bringing up your grandchildren and they have been living with you for three years or more, you can apply for a Residence Order. If they have not been living with you for three years, you can still apply to the court for permission to apply for a Residence Order. A Residence Order says whom the child is to live with and gives you Parental Responsibility for the child until he or she is aged 16. While a Residence Order is in place, you share Parental Responsibility with the child’s parents.The Grandparents Assocation has a fantastic fact sheet about Grandparents and Residence Orders, and their website is full of useful information and advice.Special Guardianship OrderA special Guardianship Order is more secure than a Residence Order since the parents cannot discharge it without permission of the court. The order appoints one or more individuals to be the child’s “Special Guardian” and is a private law order made under the Children’s Act 1989. It’s less secure than an Adoption Order since it does not dissolve the relationship between the child and their birth parents.http://www.hartnellchanot.co.uk/just-gr … stody.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:04:21 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2616#2616 2616@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: 200,000 grandparents are full time  carers to their grandchildren !!! Message: Grandparents play a vital role in children’s lives providing love, a sense of belonging to the family and save the economy an estimated £4 billion in childcare per year.Retirement is a time for grandparent’s to sit back, relax and enjoy spending time with their family. Over 200,000 grandparents, however, are acting as full time parents to their grandchildren and are experiencing the highs and lows of child rearing second time around. There are many reasons for grandparents to take on this role including:Family breakdownParents being unable to copeMental health problemsscam and alcohol abuseBereavementFinancial constraintsA desire for children to be cared for by family membersA loving role with great responsibilityGrandparents taking on the role of full-time parents often feel separated from their peers as they again enter the world of looking after young children. Socially, they may feel isolated as they find it more difficult to socialise with their own friends whose families have long since grown up and left home Furthermore, children whose parents are no longer able to look after them are often traumatized and can have emotional and psychological problems and therefore, the grandparents stepping in to take care of them will need to offer a good deal of support in addition to the more everyday aspects of raising children such as school runs, mealtimes, bedtimes.READ MORE@ http://www.hartnellchanot.co.uk/just-gr … ldren.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:02:35 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2615#2615 2615@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Grandparents to win legal right to a role in absent children’s lives Message: Grandparents to win legal right to a role in absent children’s livesBy DAILY MAIL REPORTERGrandparents are to get sweeping legal rights as part of government plans to put ‘strong, stable and loving families’ back at the heart of British life. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says it is ‘crazy’ that millions of grandparents lose contact with their grandchildren after a family separation or divorce. Ministers now plan to change the law to give greater access rights to grandparents when couples split. Mr Clegg, will set out his proposals in a speech on the familyRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … z0yrbnUT5F Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:57:07 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2614#2614 2614@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: Training Message: As a family amd friends carer, even though I am the grandmother, I have done all the training that has been offered.  However, LA will not pay me the skills payment because I am not a foster carer.your question has been sent to ridley & Hall:: awaiting replyHere is reply from Ridley & HallDear grandmaj:I do not have enough information to reply to the query, I need to know what payments are bring made at the moment, how the child or children came to be with her, the local authority involved as the policy has to be checked. if there is a special guardians order in place or any other order or on what biases she is caring for the children, what training has been done and the authorities policy on this. Without all the information I am unable to provide a answer the her question.    Would it be possible for the grandmother (grandmaj) to contact Ridley & Hall directly so that they can help her? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:35:40 +0100 http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload/viewtopic.php?pid=2613#2613 2613@http://grandparentsasparents.org.uk/upload Topic: wanted for gran friends in Plymouth area Message: Jacky Westcott hi every one just took on my two grandchildren full time , and looking for people in same boat to talk to go out and about with. In plymouth area Be pleased to here from you JACKY just leave contact details here or on the facebook site thanks xxxxhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Grandpare … 687?v=wall Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:33:05 +0100