Family Justice Review Invitation to consultation.

If anyone would like to go you need to register your interest.

Dear Jane Jackson

As you are aware, the Family Justice Review panel launched its interim report and invited responses to its proposals for reform. The panels’ interim report sets out proposals to tackle problems faced by the family justice system.

Its recommendations aim to bring greater coherence through organisational change and better management, making the system more able to cope with current and future pressures, reducing duplication of scrutiny and diverting more issues away from court.

As part of the consultation process, we are holding four open discussion events in England and Wales to provide an opportunity for individuals to hear more about the review and debate and discuss the proposals set out in the interim report. Details of these events are below:

Wednesday 18 May (approximately 2pm – 4pm) London

Tuesday 31 May (approximately 2pm – 4pm) – Cardiff

Wednesday 1 June (approximately 2pm – 4pm) – Manchester

Tuesday 7 June (approximately 2pm – 4pm) – Birmingham

The events are expected to last approximately two hours. Due to limited spaces the places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to attend please register your interest at partners@justice.gsi.gov.uk stating what date you are interested in.

The interim report and online survey can be found at: www.justice.gov.uk/publications/policy/moj/family-justice-review.htm

Kind regards

Shahi

Setting Up A Support Group.

Perseverance, perseverance, perseverance!

We haven’t seen our beautiful granddaughter since 2007 now, and I had two options, either I could cry myself to sleep every night or I could become pro-active and turn a terrible negative situation into something positive.

I chose the second option.

As there are over one million children denied access to their grandparents there must be a large number of grandparents feeling just like I was, how to reach them?

I wrote to my local newspaper and told them my story, they sent a photographer and I waited, nothing appeared, I contacted them and they said they had decided not to print it.

All I wanted them to do was to publise the fact I wanted to set up a support group, but that didn’t seem to be enough.

Several Christmas’ ago, I decided to have a Christmas tree in my garden, and it would be for all grandchildren who wouldn’t be seeing their grandparents during the festive season.

I tied yellow ribbons on all the trees in my road and attached an information sheet to them, to raise awareness.

Grandparents that I had been in touch with, on various internet forums, from all over the UK started emailing me messages to put on the Christmas tree, I took photos of the tree and sent them copies.

Once again I wrote to my local paper, which sent yet another reporter and photographer, again on Christmas Eve I was told that their legal department had said that they couldn’t print it.

I had written to ITV West and they asked if they could do a feature on their news programme, which they did.

Finally, I decided to write to the letters page of the local paper with the headline, ‘Tea and Cake for our Grandchildren.’

It worked, grandparents started ringing up and we are now up and running, giving support at meetings, on the phone and by emailing.

It is clear that grandparents find it difficult to put their head above the parapet .I think there are various reasons for this. It can be that they are so afraid of making their situation worse, so they don’t say anything, they may well be going through a court case and they don’t want to jeopardize their case, some grandparents keep it to themselves and in fact don’t talk to anyone about the pain they are feeling.

It is important the the group is member lead, so listen to other grandparents ideas and get everyone involved, it soon becomes 'their' group.

You can start off by meeting in your home, and maybe changing venue by a rota or if it becomes to big consider hiring a hall or small room.

Try not to incur costs, and ask for voluntary donations for tea,coffee etc.

Get in touch if I can help you start your group.

The moral is keep going.

Jane.

Is David Cameron going to let families down?

This is no surprise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8503785/Centre-for-Social-Justice-David-Cameron-has-broken-pledge-to-support-family-values.html

Jane

Missing People.

There are various things you can do to try and find a missing person- maybe you don't know where your grandchildren are now living.

I have written on a previous post, things to do.

One way is to contact the Salvation Army and their tracking service, you need to be aware that there is a small charge and that if they do track the person you are looking for they will contact them on your behalf but if the missing person does not want you to have their contact details then they can not be passed on.

If that does happen, don't despair because the missing person will know that you care enough to have tried to contact them through a third party and although at this present time they may not want contact they might in the future.

It is important that we can all say to our grandchildren in the future that we tried everything we could think of to try and contact them.

Jane.

200 Grandparents Contact Bristol Group.

I have been contacted now by 200 grandparents,in Bristol and surrounding area, should that be a celebration?

Probably yes and no.

No, because it means that those 200 grandparents' grandchildren are being denied their right to see their grandparents, to be able to have the love and care they deserve,from their extended family.

Yes, because that is 200 grandparents who no longer feel isolated and alone, they can get comfort and support from the group.

One grandparent who I spoke to this week said that she has no family and her friends don't understand and that to know that their are others near her going through the same thing has helped her already.

We are all here to support each other.

Jane.

Second reading Date.

The second reading of this 10 minute rule bill is on May 13th.

"Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, presented a 10 Minute Rule Bill in Parliament proposing that courts and local authorities be required to take account of the rights of children to have a relationship with both parents following divorce and separation."

Accountability-mass letter writing?

As we run up to Fathers Day on June 19th, I think it would be a good idea for us all to write to our Mp's on the issue of who is accountable to making sure schools,doctors and social workers are following laws and guidelines that already in place, for BOTH parents to receive equal information in regard to their children.

It is a slightly different tack to take, the important word being accountability.

Here is an idea of letter or email you could use, as a template .

Dear …………,

As you will know it is Fathers’ Day on June 19th and I am writing on behalf of fathers who are denied contact with their children, my son being just one of them.
As my representative in Parliament I would like to know how you and the public know that laws and guidelines given to Schools, Doctors and Social workers in respect of giving information to BOTH parents about their children is made and who are they accountable to?
In my experience in running Bristol Grandparents Support Group, I know that very often these laws and guidelines are often not adhered to.
I would be grateful to hear your views.
Many Thanks,