GRANDPARENTS who have taken on the care of their grandchildren are demanding the same rights as foster parents.

The kinship carers will make the plea at a meeting of the newly formed Glasgow City Council petitions committee.

The New Fossils Grandparents Support Group look after children who are unable to live with their natural parents and want the same financial and emotional support provided to foster parents.

Their petition, drawn up by East End kinship carer Mary McPherson, will be the first to be discussed by the new committee.

It reads: "We believe that, for years, Glasgow City Council has systematically operated an institutionalised social policy of discrimination against kinship carers.

"Glasgow City Council should introduce the start-up grants and check lists that apply to foster children and institute the same policy as regards holidays, birthdays and Christmas."

Kinship carers do not have the same access to psychologists, social workers and health visitors, and are paid £50 per week to look after their young relatives while foster parents receive £300 per week.

Most kinship carers are grandparents who take in the children because their parents are involved with drink and drugs or are dead.

In Glasgow, 1234 children and young people are looked after by their grandparents or other family members and, according to research, each kinship carer saves taxpayers between £23,500 and £56,000 per year.

A council spokesman said: "We are committed to supporting kinship carers through our formal kinship scheme and our support of the five kinship groups across the city.

"We fully acknowledge the vitally important role they play and the commitment they have to the children in their care.

"More than £380,000 was pledged in this year's budget to employ extra staff to support kinship carers."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk