Tree of Hope- for grandparents, non-resident parents all family members.

Most of you will know that for the last 5 years I have had a Christmas Tree of Hope in our front garden for grandparents to write messages to their grandchildren. Although this started for grandparents who are denied contact it is of course there for anyone to come and write messages of hope. It may be you are a non resident parent who is denied contact with your children, any family member who is not able to see a family member due to family breakdown.
Anyone is welcome to come and add their message, we have children who come every year to write their own very special messages for families who are not seeing children particularly at Christmas time.
If you are not local you can always message me your message and I will add it on your behalf.

Jane
www.bristolgrandparents.co.uk

Esther Rantzen sends message for our Tree of Hope.

I would like to thank Esther Rantzen for taking the time to send us a message for our Christmas Tree of Hope.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Kinship Carers not getting the help they should.

Grandparents who have care of their grandchildren are not getting the help and support they should.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25138483
Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Misleading information.

I have just read an article on a well known website about what to do if you are denied contact with your grandchildren, it  has completely wrong information, and is very misleading.
It uses the word 'custody' which is a word that is no longer used as it as it means imprisonment.
Also it says that it is ok for grandparents to have indirect contact if they want to, not as an order, grandparents can phone the grandchildren etc, mind it does say that it might be a good idea to tell the 'parents' that you are going to do it.
This is another corker "Custody is generally granted to the mother, so maternal grandparents end up being the providers of more of the emotional and financial support following the divorce."
Is it any wonder at all, that the public get the wrong idea about family splits, when there is content like this everywhere.
Finally, this -The onus will be on the parents to honour the relationships that matter to the child, meaning that arrangements for contact with grandparents will now have to be part of parenting agreements that are drawn up at the time of divorce - and it's only when these break down that the courts will get involved.-
"have" my understanding is that the importance of grandparents will be stressed, nowhere have I read the word "have".

Incandescent is such a good word to sum up how this sort of rubbish makes me feel.
When a grandparent finds themselves in this heartbreaking situation you try to find answers anywhere you can, and that includes the internet, this sort of thing just gives grandparents false hopes.

Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Thank You.

I would like to publicly thank those who have sent cheques to Bristol Grandparents Support Group, it costs money to run the group mail costs, phone costs, etc.
Without you it would be very difficult.

Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Karens Woodall "Do children have a right to a relationship with both of their parents?"

http://karenwoodall.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/visions-values-and-victory-do-children-have-a-right-to-a-relationship-with-both-of-their-parents/

Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Helpline for Older people.

You may have seen that a new helpline for older people was launched today, they are also asking for volunteers if you are interested take a look
http://www.thesilverline.org.uk

Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk