Without support from Grandparents Plus, I don’t think the children would be here.
When Bev’s grandchildren arrived on her doorstep one day, they were devastated and traumatised. There was a history of drugs and alcohol in the family which meant that her daughter could no longer care for them and Bev now had the responsibility of bringing them up alone.
‘I was afraid the children might end up going down the same road as me and my daughter – drugs, alcohol and crime – I knew I needed help and I didn’t want to let them down.’
The turning-point for Bev was when she contacted the advice line at Grandparents Plus. ‘Jo just listened to everything I had to say and she was really interested and she gave me the motivation and courage to carry on and move forward.’
Grandparents Plus was able to apply for grants from the Buttle Trust to help Bev with household items and fees for after-school activities for her grandchildren.
She believes that this extra support played a vital role in keeping the children safely with her. ‘Without support from Grandparents Plus, I don’t think the children would be here – sometimes I just get emotional because I can’t believe they’re going to be alright.’
