Search for Great British Grandparent 2024 gets underway ahead of National Grandparents Day this Sunday.
- British public invited to nominate their Grandparent of the Year to recognise what the elder statesmen and women in their lives bring to the family unit
- New survey finds that nearly one in five grandparents would be willing to forfeit a holiday in favour of financially supporting their nearest and dearest
- Petition launched to have first Sunday of October afforded the same status as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
[Pic: Last year’s winner, Raymond Pearson from Essex, with his grandchildren]
Do you have or know a remarkable grandparent that deserves special recognition? Then your grandparents need you!
Sunday 6 October, National Grandparents Day, marks the official launch of a nationwide search for the Great British Grandparent 2024 – an accolade conceived as a heartfelt tribute to the unsung heroes who give so much of their time, consideration, emotional and, in some cases, financial support to their nearest and dearest, day in, day out.
The search, which has been launched by Ambassador Cruise Line, the cruise operator which caters primarily for the over-50s audience, offers grateful Brits the opportunity to recognise and reward a grandparent for all that they contribute to the family unit. Running from the first Sunday in October – National Grandparents Day – until 17 November 2024, members of the public are being encouraged to nominate their partner, parent, grandparent or simply a friend for the prestigious title of Great British Grandparent.
Welcoming written, audio and video submissions via a dedicated entry page, all entries will be judged by an expert panel, with the Great British Grandparent to be announced in December. The winner will be treated to a week-long, full-board Ambassador sailing for two to enjoy at a time of their choosing.
The initiative comes after Ambassador commissioned an all-new survey that looks at the intergenerational dynamic, with findings suggesting that grandparents remain the backbone of the family unit. Research revealed that grandparents are viewed as both generous and reliable, providing an average of 24.6 hours a month of childcare to their grandchildren, even if over a third (38%) receive nothing in return. Grandparents are also considered the most trustworthy people to look after children, with almost two in three (62%) of people saying they trust them most with childcare duties.
But it doesn’t stop there – grandparents are stepping in with financial support too. The research shows that two in five (40%) Brits have turned to their grandparents for money, and that grandparents are understood to be sacrificing on their own lives – including giving up on holidays (16%), holding back on doing things with friends (12%) and remortgaging their home (8%) – to ensure their grandchildren thrive.
Ambassador is proud to be the company behind the Great British Grandparent initiative following a successful first iteration last year. Raymond Pearson, a Grandfather of five from Essex, was named Grandparent of the Year 2023 after he was nominated by his daughter, Hollie. In her nomination, Hollie described her father as ‘an absolute rock’ who ‘really deserves this break’ along with his wife, Helen, who had looked after their grandchildren since Hollie’s husband passed away over two years ago. As reward, Raymond went on to enjoy a sailing around the Norwegian Fjords with his wife last May, with the extended family kindly agreeing to feature in images to promote this year’s campaign.
Raymond Pearson, Grandparent of the Year 2023, says: “Being named the first Great British Grandparent was an honour – it took me by complete surprise and I was so grateful. My wife and I had an incredible experience sailing around the Norwegian Fjords with Ambassador earlier this year – it made me really appreciate the beauty of our world and it was a nice opportunity to relax. Although, I was eager to see my kids and grandkids on return!”
Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line, says: “Grandparents are the anchors of the family and Ambassador Cruise Line wants to provide a platform for people to recognise how important they truly are. Grandparents offer valuable wisdom, comfort and lessons to the younger generation, as well as support in times of need. We are proud to champion this amazing generation as our search for this year’s Great British Grandparent begins, and would encourage people across the nation to nominate the elder statesmen and women in their lives that really make a difference for this prestigious title.”
To nominate your Great British Grandparent 2024, visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/competitions/great-british-grandparent/. Entries close at 23:59 on Sunday 17 November 2024.
Sign our petition to grant National Grandparents Day the same status as Mother’s or and Father’s Day here: www.change.org/p/grant-national-grandparents-day-official-recognition
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Notes to Editors:
Ambassador Cruise Line conducted a survey of 2,100 people in September 2024 with Mortar Research UK. Demographics surveyed for the above data points was people living in the UK with at least one child and one living parent, and people living in the UK that have at least one living grandparent. 700 people were polled for each of these two particular demographics.
Research has been conducted by Ambassador in regard to grandparents, including childcare and monetary support provided to family, their relationships with the younger generations and how they like to connect with grandchildren, how young they really feel and what they do to keep youthful, and more. Survey findings will be released in the weeks to come.
Interviews are available upon request.
For further press information, please contact:
Tilly Everard | Rebecca Claxton | Sarah Geppert | Charlotte Wright | Emma Arthurs
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)203 440 8930
E: [email protected]
www.rooster.co.uk
Terms & Conditions:
- The prize provider is Ambassador Cruise Line, Gateway House, Stonehouse Ln, Purfleet RM19 1NS
- The competition prize is 1 x cruise holiday for two people (sharing an outside cabin) for up to 7 nights with Ambassador Cruise Line including full board accommodation.
- The prize excludes: travel insurance; travel joining costs to the cruise terminal/port; port parking; onboard expenditure of a personal nature i.e. drinks, gifts, shopping, laundry, communications etc; any visa & health certificate charges that may apply; and crew gratuities which will be automatically billed to your onboard account at £6pp per night unless you opt for a drinks package.
- The prize is as described, is not transferable and there is no cash alternative.
- All nominations/entries must be received by the closing date 17 November 2024.
- The entry criteria will be to complete the nomination form in full and abide by the T&Cs; the winner selection will be made by an appointed group of judges and will be based on the written entries. The judges’ decision is final.
- Ambassador Cruise Line reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value should circumstances become necessary.
- The winner must hold a valid passport and comprehensive travel insurance. It is the winner’s responsibility to check any visa and health requirements for the cruise.
- The winner may be required to take part in publicity resulting from the prize draw.
- Ambassador has permission to use the winner’s name, image, and details from the entry in social media, media materials, and marketing materials (which may be shared publicly) in relation to the competition.
- Entry into the competition assumes acceptance of the rules.
- The prize winner must respond to Ambassador within 48 hours of contact, as publicity activity will be required following the close of the competition.
- The winner may be subject to background and/or referencing checks if deemed necessary by Ambassador Cruise Line.
- Ambassador Cruise Line and its PR agency Rooster will book the holiday prize within 28 days of the winner accepting the prize.
- Prize is subject to availability and blackout dates may apply.
- Enter at www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/competitions/great-british-grandparent/
About Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador Cruise Line launched in 2021, offering the UK market authentic no-fly cruises, affordable quality and the warmest welcome at sea. Based in Purfleet, Essex and sailing to multiple destinations including the Nordics, Iceland, Canada, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Americas and more, Ambassador provides adult-only experiences primarily for the over-50s market combined with a selection of multi-generational itineraries. The cruise line’s first ship, Ambience, entered the fleet in May 2022, operating from her home port of London Tilbury. From the 2023/24 season, guests have sailed onboard Ambience as well as her sister ship, Ambition, whose maiden voyage in May 2023 heralded the launch of sailings from eight regional UK ports: London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Edinburgh Leith, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, and Falmouth.
