Caring for the carers

Like teen parent Jodie in the Auckland Women’s Centre the story, Ann wasn’t planning on bringing up small children at this stage of her life, but the 51-year-old grandmother currently has eight grandchildren living with her.

“When the kids first arrive, you think ‘This is crazy! What do I do? Where do I go? Is anyone out there?’ We didn’t even have clothes and blankets for them. But I heard about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ [GRG] and I was just blown away by their practical support and the way they know what you are going through. Now we have peace of mind, we’re not short of anything and I feel truly blessed to be here for my grandkids.”

Ann is one of more than 3,800 members of GRG, an organisation set up to support grandparents and kin carers as they raise the children their own sons and daughters are not able to raise.

“It’s a tough job,” says trustee Diane Vivian, who cares for two children of a former foster daughter. “We’re older, we’re often on low, fixed incomes, we grieve for what’s happened to our children and grandchildren. And sometimes the kids can be quite troubled; they have holes in their hearts wondering why their own mums can’t look after them. We’re here to support the carers to care for the kids.”

The Todd Foundation has provided three years of funding for a part-time field officer to work with families and some of the 49 GRG branches nationally.