Sometimes due to family upheaval grandparents can find themselves unexpectedly raising a young family again.

As the school year begins, this can cause enormous emotional and financial stress, especially for a grandparent living on a pension.

There can be many issues to deal with; the costs of feeding and clothing the children, legal issues relating to custody, counselling needs and, not least, the toll it can take on personal health.

If you’re a sole grandparent, Birthright Marlborough Inc. can help you to find respite care and counselling and assist you with school uniforms and extra-curricular activities for your grandchildren.

There is some support available through WINZ and through various community organisations in Marlborough like Barnados, which offers counselling and parenting courses.

Sources of help include:

• WINZ
• Barnados NZ, 31 George Street, Mike Henderson, Ph: 03 578 6491.
• Age Concern Marlborough: Ph: 03 579 3457
• Community Law Centre: Ph: 03 577 9919
• Birthright Marlborough: Ph: 03 577 9498, office hours 9.00 am-11.30 am or leave a message.
• Inland Revenue: Freephone 0800 227 773 or www.ird.govt.nz
• Support and information is also available from a national trust known as the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust: Freephone 0800 427 637.