As I reflect over the last 16 years, I have many thoughts, but the most important one for me as founder of Bristol Grandparents Support Group, is the unsung heroes.
It is not about any one person who should be thanked for their constant help and support, be that with raising awareness, campaigning or helping other grandparents who need help and support.
The unsung heroes are those who just quietly get on with things that need to be done, they don’t want plaudits or their names in lights, they just want to make things better for grandchildren who are denied contact with a loving and caring grandparent.
Right across the UK and beyond many people working tirelessly over nearly 20 years, working selflessly for others.
They don’t want a mention, they don’t want adoration or people thinking they are somehow the person with all the answers, they are bigger than that.
They genuinely care, not about themselves but about the greater good.
There are now 12 groups across the UK, some well established some just starting out, every group is different all are run independently but all with the same goal of making a difference, they may not be out there banging the drum, but in my view they are the real heroes, holding out a hand of friendship to someone who is in a very dark place.
No high profile media or headline will ever be able to achieve what these unsung heroes are doing, not just for those thirty seconds of fame, but everyday. Everyday, answering the phones, replying to emails and meeting people face to face, doing what human beings should do, caring.
Over my time in this space, I have seen countless people come and go, many discussions, debates ect, always those who think they can change the world, maybe they can. As yet I have not witnessed it.
So, what I really wanted to say was this.
Thank you to all of those heroes for putting others before yourselves, for those not wanting to be thanked, those group leaders who give up their time in a quiet manner,for those who are actually quite literally being life savers.
All headlines become yesterday’s news, our heroes are today and everydays news.
