Rights for Grandchildren.

For years media  and everyone else for that matter have used the term Grandparents' Rights which I have always worked hard at to try to avoid.
It is difficult to find a different phraseology because it is instantly recognisable, people know what it means, which is one reason why on our new website that will be going live in the next few weeks, it says "Grandparents rights awareness and support across the UK and beyond."
It is what grandparents put into a search engine when looking for help.
In reality the ethos of BGSG has always been the needs of the grandchildren, so a more appropriate phrase will always be "Grandchildren's Rights."
The need to keep it child focussed.
Again for years we and others have been  hopeful that  shared parenting would be legislated for only to have it squashed over and over again.
Children not being allowed a loving and caring relationship with both parents.
Today, David Cameron has delivered his latest take on government and families, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-cameron-on-families but as we are all so aware this government does not stick to its promises, they do not listen to the voices of children, children who want relationships with both parents and the wider family.
Government needs to stop the decline in family breakdown or we will have not only family breakdown but breakdown in society itself.
The government must enshrine in law "Grandchildren's Rights" a law where children have a right to a relationship with their wider family if family breakdown occurs, unless it is proven unsafe for them to do so. The important word is proven, too many times false allegations are made against grandparents and there is  no way of refuting them.
Even if young adult grandchildren tell those in authority that allegations made against their grandparents are totally untrue, they are told they are lying.
And we wonder why our young people don't trust those in authority.
We all know that next year is a general election and it is estimated that there are 14, million grandparents in the UK, a force to be reckoned with I would say.
It is your vote use it wisely.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk