The Grandparents' Quilt of Love and Hope Exhibition

A symbolic quilt of ‘love and hope’ is on display at Worcester Cathedral during December, highlighting the plight of grandparents who are estranged from their grandchildren.

Exhibited by the Worcestershire Grandparents’ Support Group, the quilt, which is made up of squares contributed by grandparents from all over the UK, will be on display in the Dean’s Chapel from Tuesday 29 November until Sunday 4 December, during normal visiting hours.

The Grandparents’ Quilt of Love and Hope, inspired by a similar project in Canada, was the brainchild of Susan Cramer, a member of a grandparents’ support group on the south coast, who also undertook the huge and daunting task of stitching it all together.

This colourful, detailed and striking work is intended to raise awareness of the issue.

The Worcestershire Grandparents’ Support Group was started in March 2017.

Penelope Young from the WGSG, said: “It is a little-known fact that grandchildren in the UK have no automatic legal right of contact with their grandparents. Loss of contact can occur for a variety of reasons and can be distressing for both grandparents and grandchildren, who may have developed strong bonds.

“Many grandparents don’t talk about it through embarrassment, because they think that they are the only people in this situation, or because they worry that people will think they must have done something wrong. 

“Any grandparent who is in this situation is welcome to attend our meetings."

To find out more about the Worcestershire Grandparents Support Group, please contact Penelope at worcsgsg@gmail.com or on 07751 444747.