Welcome.


Hi everyone and welcome to Bristol Grandparents Support Group blog. Although we are Bristol based we have grandparents from all over the UK and beyond as members.

It is estimated that over one million children in the UK are denied contact with their grandparents due to family breakdown which may have been caused by divorce/separation, alcohol/drug dependency,domestic violence,bereavement or family feud.
Every child has the right to have contact with their grandparents
if they wish and unless proven unsafe for them to do so. To deny contact from a parent or grandparent has to become as socially unacceptable as drink driving.
I hope to keep you up to date with what is going on in BGSG and I shall continue to campaign for the rights of children to have a loving and meaningful relationship with both parents and their extended family. So please join in as good to hear your views, not just mine!
I also will support via Skype.
There is no membership fee to be part of Bristol Grandparents Support Group.
Esther Rantzen says, " To every grandparent, links of love can never be broken in our hearts."

Please contact during office hours.
07773258270


Wednesday 30 January 2013

Fridays Meeting.

Just to say I am looking forward to seeing you on Friday at 2pm, please be warned we STILL have a road closure in our road, so allow a bit more time !
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Support in Portland Dorset?

Is there anyone near Portland who would be willing to give some support?
Please let me know.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

The importance of Granny.

The importance of Granny.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/life-is-grand-as-a-granny-8460792.html
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Dad ends his life as denied contact with his children.

Yesterday I was so saddened to hear that yet another Dad who had been embroiled in a bitter court case trying to get contact with his children, found it impossible to carry on and he ended his life.
Do the public actually realise how destructive denying contact is? Do they even care?
When we are living in a society that makes fathers have to fight for the right to see their children, I despair.
I posted recently about Fathers Groups, and when you hear that another life has been been ended, how do we expect them to react?
Lets not forget the children, they will be affected by the loss of their Dad, for the rest of their lives, what will the explanation be?
I was interested to see today that Relate say that suicide rates rose in 2011, especially men aged  30-44, is anyone asking why?
As long as this horrendous Parental Alienation is allowed to continue this sadly will not be the last tragedy.
The BBC  also have a link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21141815

Denying contact must be as unacceptable as drink driving.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk


Sunday 20 January 2013

The legal route can have a positive outcome.

I would like to share this message I have received from a grandparent, with everyone, particularly anyone who is embarking on going down the legal route:
"Take heart everyone out there. I have just been to to court and been given leave to apply for contact AND  been given a temporary contact order starting this Sunday with dates until April when the full hearing will take place. The judge said he would have given leave even if the ........... hadnt agreed the tempory contact order. Initially she want to argue against the leave application. My solicitor was excellent."
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk 

What schools need to know about Parental Responsibility.

I have been asked again about what schools should be doing re Parental Responsibility, so here is the link.
If you experience an issue with schools, take this information with you, if still no joy, write to your MP and to the Director for Children,Families and Schools in your council.


http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/parents/a0014568/parental-responsibility

Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Thursday 17 January 2013

Nothing new from the Coalition then.........

The Coalition - our programme for government. Coalition Report

Quote:

  • We will conduct a comprehensive review of family law in order to increase the use of mediation when couples do break up, and to look at how best to provide greater access rights to non-resident parents and grandparents. 

    Not another comprehensive review surely? Nothing about legislation for Shared Parenting.


    Jane
    www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Bob Geldof Revisited.

Several years ago Bob Geldof stood up for Fathers very strongly, it is worth watching this video again, it fills me with despair that the situation has not improved at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZDBOH2Hdz8
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk


Monday 14 January 2013

Chanel 4- Sharing Mum and Dad.

If you missed the Chanel 4 programme called Sharing Mum and Dad here is the link
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od

A golden opportunity missed, I feel, where were Dads/Mums with NO contact?
A soft option programme.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup/co/uk

Fathers Groups Deserve Respect.

Do people really understand what it is to be denied contact with your child, whether you are a dad, a mum or a grandparent, it is total devastation.
If you are a parent, who will know the love you feel for your child, you would go to the end of the earth for them, just imagine that one day that child is removed from your life, no more cuddles, no more bedtime stories, no more laughter , no contact, nothing just a huge void of emptiness.
How would you react?
Fathers groups in particular,  get sidelined, when consultations on family justice reforms are held, they don't count, they get bad press constantly.
They are painted as the 'bad' guys, feckless, men who stand outside buildings shouting through loudhailers , have you ever given them time to ask why they do these things?
Its very simple, they are dads who are hurting so badly they are desperate, all they want is to be part of their child's life.
Of course they are angry, they know that their children are growing up every day without them.
Wouldn't you be angry?
These groups are fighting for their children, they deserve respect.
So the next time you see a report on TV about dads protesting, don't switch off, just remember millions of children are being denied the love of BOTH their parents, and it could happen to you.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk




Top Judge against shared parenting.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/370559/No-50-50-sharing-of-children-in-new-divorce-law-says-top-judge
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupporgroup.co.uk

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Get Clued Up If Representing Yourself.

It was always going to happen, as legal aid is being cut , more and more people are going to represent themselves when going to court.
It is vital that anyone choosing to go down the route of Self Represented Litigants get themselves very well prepared, to be concise and focused.
You must listen to court advisers of exactly what the court are interested in, keep it factual and try to keep your emotions under control.
I know easier said than done.
Hopefully, the courts and Ministry of Justice will work together to get information out there,  to help LIP's to see what is expected and an introduction to show what a hearing is like.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk


Sunday 6 January 2013

BCR interview.

Just to let you all know that the interview with Bristol Community Radio http://bcfm.org.uk will be broadcast on  Friday 18th January between 10 am and noon on 93.2 FM. 
The programme is Silversound.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Wednesday 2 January 2013

New Year,New Hopes.

Thank you so much if you emailed or came in to write messages to your grandchildren for the Christmas Tree this year, the photo doesn't show how many messages there are, but there were over 60, and it has shone brightly all through December.
It always raises public awareness with people stopping and asking what it is for, it also helps grandparents at what can be a very difficult time of the year.
We now move on to a new year with new hopes and dreams, We will continue to give support where it is needed.
Please remember again, you are not alone.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk