2nd in series of One to One from a Dads Point of view.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cjwtg/One_to_One_Yasmin_AlibhaiBrown_with_Louis_de_Bernieres/

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Posters.

Please let me know if you would like me to send you posters and leaflets.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

You ARE the EXPERTS.

There has been huge interest in setting up of local groups, if you are thinking "I could do that." Get in touch.

If you hear people say things like,"You need training it needs to be an expert," don't let it put you off.

As far as being an expert is concerned, we ARE the experts, because we are going through this heartbreaking situation. We are the ones who know exactly how others are feeling, that is not something that can be taught, you just know.

Most people have the capacity to listen, to be non-judgemental and to empathise.

Support can be done over the phone or email, you don't have to hold meetings.

I was asked about how to run a meeting.

As I have written on the website, the group needs to be run by its members, ask them in what direction they want to go in, what they want out of the group. They need to be informal, non-threating just like minded people getting together,sharing their stories and supporting each other.

Of course when you are talking to someone, you only hear one side of the story, but you have to take them at face value, we are not in the blame-game.

There are of course some do's & don'ts .

: Never give out any details, names, contact details to anyone. Without their permission.

: Never talk to media about a situation that may well be going through legal proceedings.

: Never use your grandchildren's names to media etc.

: Never give out photos of grandchildren to media.

: Anything that is said to you is confidential, if you have meetings start by saying that anything that is said within that meeting is also confidential.

: Do produce cake at meeting!!!!!!!

It is a SUPPORT group, nothing more nothing less.

As I keep harping back to is, when a grandparent rings (which in itself is the most difficult step) they all say, "thank goodness, I thought I was the only one."

So give it thought, and ask me if you think it is something you would like to do.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Emotion abound.

Gosh, what a week and its only Wednesday!

I have been so moved by the grandparents who have been in touch since the Radio 4 programme.

People apparently crying over their breakfast, pulling into laybys to listen and tears pouring down their faces , re-listening to it on iplayer, goodness me.

All of this because we are not allowed to be part of our grandchildrens' lives.

Such sadness for us all and no answers.

All we can do is to keep hoping, and have faith in our hope, that one day all will work out, and that the children will be able to be part of our lives, which is their right.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Phenomenal response to interview.

Thank you so much for the response to the one to one interview that was on Radio 4 this morning.

The response has been extraordinary and I will write to everyone as soon as I can.

Here is the link if you missed it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c7pq2

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

What is an Harassment Order?

"There needs to be at least two separate occasions of conduct which, together, can be said to amount to harassment. This is where the apparent need for a harassment warning comes in – a single act on its own cannot amount to a "course of conduct".

The warning lets the individual know that a complaint has been received and that a charge may follow if the conduct complained of is repeated.

A harassment warning is not a criminal conviction – simply a notice that a complaint has been received. The behaviour complained of, by itself, does not amount to a crime.

The person who is sent the warning can lodge a formal complaint (in the first instance to the police force that issued the warning and by appeal thereafter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, IPCC)."

Article 6 of the Human Rights Act protects your right to a fair trial in criminal and civil proceedings. It states that:

"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law".

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Nationwide Support.

Don't forget if you are interested in setting up a group for grandparents denied contact with their grandchildren, get in touch and I can give you advice and will help you in any way I can. I have posters and leaflets for info.

Jane.

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

JUSTICE4CHILDREN: Listen to the children!

JUSTICE4CHILDREN: Listen to the children!

Our group is specifically for denied contact.

There are many support group around the country, that deal with issues to do with grandparents, grandparents as Kinship Carers, Grandparents and Toddler groups etc, our support group is specifically for grandparents who are denied contact.

We welcome Mums and Dads as well who are denied contact, we are all going through the trauma of not seeing children, be it our own or our grandparents.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Interview with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.

A reminder of interview with radio 4 is on Feb 21st 9;30 am.

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/pkykc/one-to-one--episode-3

"Journalist and broadcaster Yasmin Alibhai-Brown presents the first of three interviews exploring the many ways families are altered by divorce. She begins by meeting Jane, who has not seen her grand-daughter for four years following the collapse of her son's marriage. Jane discusses how she set up a support group for other grandparents coping with what she describes as a living bereavement."

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Survey for Dads or Dads to be.

If you are a Dad or about to be this is a link to a survey, chance of winning Amazon vouchers.

http://brightonmanplan.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/dads-win-100-just-for-telling-us-what-you-think/

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Where are the Stats?

This is a very good article.

http://karenwoodall.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/in-the-best-interests-of-children-how-gingerbread-get-the-rights-argument-wrong/

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Mediation.

If you are looking for mediation have a look at this link:

http://nfm.org.uk/bristol-family-mediation/about-bfm

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

A guide for Children and Young People on Family Justice Report

https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-00003-2012.pdf

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Government Announcement.

http://www.familylaw.co.uk/system/uploads/attachments/0003/9761/GovtResponse-FamilyJusticeReview.pdf

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

I await the government announcement.

I have just posted a link to DM article.

I would read with an open mind, it seems to me that it is a continuation of what was in the Norgrove report. In that couples will be encouraged to sign a Parenting Agreement and within that the importance of grandparents will be encouraged.

I might be completely wrong, but it is the DM headline and we have seen them like this before.

It is imperative that parents come first, they must address shared parenting first.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Grandparents Importance

Article in DM this morning.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096967/Grandparents-key-role-family-splits-Shake-ensure-touch-youngsters.html

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Who is a single parent?

When a couple separate, for some extraordinary reason one of them becomes a 'single' parent, there is no such thing.

Two people create children, the term should be a 'separated' parent.

The only true definition of a 'single' parent, would be someone who have tragically lost their partner.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Grandparents, Mums and Dads

We all have a common denominator, none of us are seeing our children. All of us are feeling the isolation and heartbreak, from not being allowed to be in our 'children's' lives.

For me our group should be all inclusive and we welcome grandparents,mums and dads, we will support you all.

Jane.

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Mums Denied Contact.

If you are a Mum who has been denied contact with your children and would like to talk to other Mums in the same situation, please get in touch with me.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Important Date Change.

Good to see everyone this afternoon, thank you for making the effort to turn out on such a cold afternoon.

For those of you not here, important date change, I had next meeting down as April 6th, and I didn't realise that it is in fact Good Friday! So apologies and the date is now APRIL 13th at 2pm.

it has been a busy day, done interview with Radio Bristol and Radio Leeds, then meeting!

So feet up with a cuppa.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Both Parents to have contact.

This is the best news I have heard in 5 years, if correct.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095671/Childs-right-absent-father-Law-help-millions-broken-homes.html

On radio Bristol after 9am to talk about it.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.couk

ITV This Morning

I understand that This Morning is featuring grandmother denied contact for 14 years tomorrow.

I think it is the grandmother who was in the paper recently.

If you have comments to make email the show.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk