When people from the Caribbean were invited to Britain to work and help rebuild the country after World War II, they came believing that their stay would be temporary. Many parents left their children in the care of the extended family, mainly grandmothers as this was culturally accepted.

As it became apparent that their stay was becoming long-term or permanent, many parents arranged for their children to rejoin them in the UK. Many of the children had become attached to their carers and came reluctantly. Upon arrival in the UK, some children found it difficult to relate to parents and new siblings. The potential for a young child to form an attachment to their primary Carer - the one who nurtured him / her during the formative years - was poorly understood and is one of a number of factors which caused considerable grief and distress within many Caribbean families.