The research, funded by a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in partnership with the Beth Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Gerontology at Kings' College London, will establish a detailed picture of family policy and grandparenting across ten EU countries, including the UK, Hungary, Denmark and Romania.
The two-year study will build on earlier research by Grandparents Plus (News, 16 June 2010), and look at the ages of grandparents, whether they are working, the role they play in supporting families and the impact of family policies in each country.
Sam Smethers, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, said, 'We know some of our European neighbours are already well ahead in recognising and supporting grandparents. This new study will allow us to find out exactly how their systems work and what we can learn for the UK.'
The charity is also calling on the Government to take further steps to recognise and support the role of grandparents, following the launch of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' consultation paper on flexible working and parental leave last week, which Grandparents Plus said failed to propose that parents be able to transfer parental leave to grandparents.
Other recommendations include:
- - Extending the right to request flexible working to grandparents, to help those who are juggling work and childcare
- - Introducing a two-week period of 'granny leave'
- - Paying grandparents who care for their grandchildren through tax credits or childcare vouchers
- - Giving grandparents and other family carers the option to take paid leave, similar to adoption leave, when they take on a child.