Think Wider Family say leading charities

Families Need Fathers, The Grandparents' Association and Family Matters Institute call for wider families to be given greater consideration when parents part
New research on the importance of grandparents and wider families to be launched at Westminster on May 18th
Gloria Hunniford to introduce findings
Innovative communication service Finerday supports and sponsors

On May 18th, Families Need Fathers, The Grandparents' Association and the Family Matters Institute will meet at Westminster to launch new research on the importance of grandparents and wider families, highlight the problems facing them after parents separate or divorce and call upon the Government to make significant changes.

Research has consistently demonstrated the benefits that grandparents provide to their grandchildren’s wellbeing. However, research conducted by Families Need Fathers and the Grandparents Association for their report ‘Beyond the Nuclear: Including the Wider Family’ showed that 42% of respondent grandparents lost all contact with their grandchildren after parental separation.

‘Beyond the Nuclear: Including the Wider Family’, together with the Family Matters Institute's ‘Do Grandparents Matter’? The Impact of Grandparents on the Wellbeing of Children’, a timely and important report jointly carried out with the University of Hertfordshire showing the immense value of grandparents in 21st century family life, will be launched on the evening of May 18th in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster.

The event will be hosted by Stewart Jackson MP, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government and we are anticipating appearances from Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Professor Anne Buchanan (Oxford University Department of Social Policy and Social Work) and Gloria Hunniford.

Collectively, Families Need Fathers, The Grandparents' Association and the Family Matters Institute will call on the Government to make changes to legislation, policy and practice to improve children’s access to their wider family after their parents divorce or separate.

To attend the event and for more information on ‘Beyond the Nuclear: Including the Wider Family’ or Families Need Fathers please contact Becky Sibert (becky.sibert@fnf.org.uk / 0207 6135060) or Nick Barnard (nick.barnard@fnf.org.uk / 07979206384) or visit www.fnf.org.uk

For more information on ‘Do grandparents matter? The Impact of Grandparents on the Wellbeing of Children’ or the Family Matters Institute please contact Matt Buttery (matt@familymatters.org.uk / 07739 306858) or Dr Clifford Hill (cliff@familymatters.org.uk / 01767 641002) or Professor Fiona Brooks (f.m.brooks@herts.ac.uk) or visit www.familymatters.org.uk

For more information on The Grandparents' Association please visit www.grandparents-association.org.uk

The launch and 'Beyond the Nuclear: Including the Wider Family' are sponsored and supported by Finerday, a unique online service designed to keep families in touch, with a particular focus on being easy and safe for older and younger users. Finerday will go live in time for the event. For more information on Finerday please contact Lilla Harris (07899 917 759 / lilla.harris@finerday.com) or visit www.finerday.co.uk

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For comment or information please contact:

Becky Sibert, Policy & Information Officer 020 7613 5060
Nick Barnard, Director of Communications 07979 206 384
Jon Davies, FNF CEO 07976 935 986
Matt Buttery, FMI CEO 07739 360858
Dr Clifford Hill, Research Director / Author of Do Grandparents Matter? 01767 641002