Grandparents
get access to grandchildren

SAGA WELCOMES CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO GRANDPARENTS IN THE FAMILY LAW
REVIEW

Saga research finds over 8 in 10 grandchildren confide in their grandparents

Saga greatly welcomes the inclusion of children’s access to grandparents
in the family law review. “The role that grandparents play in the life
of this country’s children is at last recognised, ” says Emma Soames editor
at large of Saga Magazine. “Although the review stops short of enshrining
access to grandparents in law, it recognises the importance of that relationship
and should reassure grandparents that they are considered an important
part of a child’s life.”

“Often when parents break up, however amicably, children no longer feel
they can talk to them about their concerns for fear of putting further
pressure on mum and dad. Our research* tells us that more than 8 out of
10 (83%) grandchildren confide in their grandparents, so to have this
rug pulled from under them at the same time is likely to have devastating
and far reaching consequences.”

Access to grandparents will now form part of parenting agreements which
parents will be obliged to make on separation. “Seeing their grandparents
now becomes an obligation on behalf of separating parents which should
help many children remain in touch with them at a very difficult time.”
says Emma Soames

Further grandparents research findings:

• Almost two-thirds of grandparents questioned (62%) say they are very
  close, and another third (30%) say they are reasonably close to their
  grandchildren. Almost half (48%) say that they spend between £101 and
  £999 a year contributing to their grandchild or grandchildren. However,
  only one-quarter (25%) say they make a big or very big contribution
  to their grandchild’s or grandchildren’s care, with one-quarter (27%)
  saying they do not contribute at all.
• Three-quarters (74%) say that they take a big or very big interest
  in their grandchild’s or grandchildren’s education, with only 5% saying
  they take a small or no amount. Half (49%) say they try to identify
  and encourage their grandchildren’s skills and talents very much, with
  another two-fifths (41%) saying they do so a reasonable amount.
• One-third of those with grandchildren feel their grandchildren can
  confide in them a great deal (34%) while almost half (49%) say they
  can do so a reasonable amount.

Visit www.saga.co.uk
for information

* Populus received 14,757 responses from adults aged
50 and over to its online poll for SAGA between 16th and 20th February
2009.