Petition · Department for Education
Amend Children Act 1989 to presume grandchild-grandparent contact
Closed
493 signatures
What the petition asks
Based on sound UK evidence, we ask to amend the Children Act 1989 to presume (unless there are safeguarding factors) that involvement of a grandparent in a grandchild's life will further their welfare.
We think this should apply to all grandchildren regardless of their age and family situations.
A 2022 survey estimates a sixth of 0-16yo UK grandparents are prevented from seeing their grandchildren. We believe grandchildren then often experience a sudden and traumatic end to the relationship, leaving many grandchildren unable to see their safe grandparents long-term. We think there are seven typologies that reflect the various grandchild experiences.
We believe that grandchildren's ongoing ambiguous grief following this living loss is an unidentified but significant component of the present children and young people's mental health crisis.
A 2022 survey estimates a sixth of 0-16yo UK grandparents are prevented from seeing their grandchildren. We believe grandchildren then often experience a sudden and traumatic end to the relationship, leaving many grandchildren unable to see their safe grandparents long-term. We think there are seven typologies that reflect the various grandchild experiences.
We believe that grandchildren's ongoing ambiguous grief following this living loss is an unidentified but significant component of the present children and young people's mental health crisis.
Timeline
| 27 Jan 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
493
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Education
Opened
27 Jan 2025
Closed
27 Jul 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 4 Aug 2026.