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DU’s new project is BeGrand.net – the secret is out!

Posted in All posts, What We're Up To

SophieWell, the secret’s been out a while  but now it’s official. DU is  part of an exciting new project to build a website for grandparents. I’m Sophie,  I was a project manager for DU, but now, along with the lovely Gill Adams, who many of you know, I’ve been seconded to work for BeGrand.net….

BeGrand.net will launch in January and it’s a site focused on Grandparents.  It’s going to be a place where people can …..

  • Find information, advice and support on everything from fun, free things to do with their grandchildren, to serious issues like grandparents’ legal rights.
  • Make friends with other grandparents and share their expertise, knowledge and ideas online.
  • Get answers to their questions from our trained advisors.

The project may sound familiar, because although we haven’t been able to properly publicise it, we’ve been advertising for jobs on it via this blog and you didn’t have to be a super sleuth to work out what was going on.  However, it’s now been formally announced by the Department of Children, Schools and Families – who are funding its initial stages, so we can reveal the details.  Their announcement is here. And the press release from BeGrand.net is here.

We’re one of three partners who started a consortium to build the site.  As well as providing specialist staff overseeing content and communications, we have an advisory role on its board.  Though the project is a separate business, we’ll be closely linked to it and through it, continue DU’s mission to help older people get more out of life online.

There’s more information about it on the BeGrand.net blog and for the technocrats amongst you, a techy blog about how it’s being built.

The most important thing about the site is that it becomes a place for grandparents to talk about what they think and feel – not a site where we tell grandparents what they ought to think and feel.  If you’re a grandparent,or an adopted one, one-in-waiting, or just someone who’s interested in the subject,  please get involved.  We’re interested in what you think about the idea, and what you think should be on the site.  You can talk to us via the BeGrand.net blog or  sign up for the news letter and we’ll let you know when it launches.


November 16th, 2009 sophiet | 2 Comments »



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    2 Responses to “DU’s new project is BeGrand.net – the secret is out!”

    1. Richard Barker Says:
      November 27th, 2009 at 11:47 am

      Just a note of caution. Not all grandparents consider themselves as elderly. I personally know some who are in their mid to late 30’s.

      I apologise if it’s something you’re already aware of, but in case it isn’t, please bear it in mind when considering language used in formulating your articles.

    2. sophie Says:
      November 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

      It’s a good point. I think what’s really important is that the site is all about grandparents and what they need and want. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re 35 or 75. It’s not about your age, it’s about your grandparenting and the site must be welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

      Having said that, I think we do also need to recognise that the majority of our target users are over 40. The youngest grandparent in the UK IS only 28, but the latest stats suggest that, out of around 14m Grandparents, only 130,000 are under 40. Again, it’s what they’re doing not their age group that matters – but many will find themselves in situations that perhaps younger grandparents aren’t in (for example, supporting their own parents who are perhaps frail at the same time as helping their children and grandchildren).

      So we need to make sure we’re covering the content our audience needs – whatever their age.

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