Show gran you love her today (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Show gran you love her today

Sue Povey with her grandchildren Caitlin, Jasmine,Olivia and Sam. Ref: TODAY is National Grandparents' Day and Age Concern is urging people across the town to spend time with their grandparents.

And while it may not be a day many have heard of, Sue Povey, grandmother of four, said she was looking forward to being spoilt.

"I always make a point of dropping hints about how nice it would be to get some flowers," said the 45-year-old.

"I think it is the children's way of showing that they care."

Mrs Povey, of Grange Park, has 15 children and her youngest grandchild is just three weeks old.

"I look after the grandchildren while their mums are at work, they just integrate in with the rest of the house," she said.

"My youngest is two and it's really nice that they are all growing up together.

"But sometimes it does feel a bit strange to have a grandchild that's older than my youngest."

But she agrees not many people know the day exists.

"I think it probably started off as something the card companies thought up to boost profits," she said.

"But it is nice for people to take the time out to enjoy their grandparents, especially older grandparents, it is nice for them to get a visit and spend some time with their family."

New research by the charity Age Concern shows the average grandparent has to travel less than 20 miles to visit their grandchildren. And being closer means more involvement.

One in four of the UK's 13million grandparents are routinely bringing up their grandchildren.

And the research also shows that the majority of grandparents spend an average of six and a half hours a week acting as substitute parents.

Jo Osorio, from Age Concern Swindon, said today's grandparents were a credit to every community.

He said: "Today's grandparents are far more hands-on when it comes to looking after their grandchildren.

"They are more actively involved than ever before picking them up from school, taking them on holidays and providing financial support."

To help celebrate the role of grandparents in family life, the charity is encouraging people to send their grandparents a special bouquet from Charity Flowers.

All profits from Charity Flowers fund the work of one of 170 charities across Britain. For information log on to www.charityflowers.co.uk.

They're just grand

There are approximately 13 million grandparents in the UK.

One in every three people is a grandparent by the time they turn 50.

By the age of 54 one in every two people is a grandparent

Grandparents have on average 4.4 grandchildren, which is fewer than in previous years

One in two grandparents has a living parent

Grandparents in the UK provide 60 per cent of the country's childcare.

More than one third of grandparents under the age of 60 still have a dependent child of their own living at home.

Only one person in ten in the UK agrees that grandparents have little to teach grandchildren

Three quarters of UK adults believe that with so many working mothers, families need grandparents to help more and more.