A website has been launched to support grandparents who are estranged from their grandchildren or have been denied contact with them.

The National Grandparents Register, founded by Worcester’s Sandy Grayson, hopes that the website will give hope to grandparents estranged or alienated by family members.

Often it means they have no was of making contact with their much-loved grandchildren – often due to divorce or family break ups.

It is estimated more than two million grandparents in the UK alone are unable to connect with their respective grandchildren for various reasons, usually through no choice or fault of their own.

The website itself is run by grandparents – and hopes to highlight the emotional and physical pain that can be debilitating for a grandparent – as well having a negative impact on the grandchild.

 

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Grandparents in the UK currently have no legal rights to gain access to their grandchildren.

Sandy said: “It’s time to go public with this issue. Too many grandparents are sitting alone at home, suffering in silence and feeling too ashamed or embarrassed to tell anyone about what they have to live with.

“Grandparents within a loving family are unable to relate to this, however this is something that can happen to anyone.”

Last year, a symbolic quilt of ‘love and hope’ went on display at Worcester Cathedral during, highlighting the plight of grandparents.

The purpose of the website is:

For grandparents

To direct them to a support group nearby or help create one in their area (anywhere in the world and to also give them the opportunity of registering their details for when their grandchild is ready to find them).

For grandchildren

To use this register, wherever they are in the world, as a conduit to connect to their rightful grandparents as and when they are ready and able to find them.

This matching service is free to all grandchildren over the age 16 in the UK (or over the age of consent, depending where they are in the world) looking to find their grandparent(s).

To be listed on the register simply email the NGR and a questionnaire will be sent to complete. Details will be kept on the register and will connect to rightful grandparent(s) as soon as the right match is found.

The cost for grandparents to register their details is £10 per year – no information will be shared with third parties

The website welcomes grandparents’ stories and news, however they are unable to give advice or guidance relating to family disputes and/or difficulties.

Visit: www.nationalgrandparentsregister.org or email: info@ngr.org

The Worcestershire Grandparents Support Group can be contacted by email at: worcsgsg@gmail.com