http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/7528771/Agony-of-the-frozen-out-fathers.html#postComment
A new BBC series explores the reasons why fathers lose touch with their children post-separation. Cassandra Jardine investigates.
By Cassandra Jardine
Published: 7:00AM GMT 27 Mar 2010
Watching a preview of next week’s BBC series Who Needs Fathers?, I felt ashamed to be a woman. The men on the programme appeared to be loving, attentive fathers – not extremists in Batman costumes. All they wanted was to play their part in the upbringing of their children. But, at every turn, it seemed, vengeful, short-sighted women were selfishly trying to thwart them.
These mothers cancelled contact arrangements, scuppered telephone calls, made false allegations of abuse, and prevented the men taking their children on holiday. “Honestly, I feel like throwing in the towel,” said one tearful father, who sat in his car outside his ex’s front door, waiting in vain for the children to come out. Only an emergency court order won him the day.
Not only did these women want total control of the children – believing their love was enough – they also expected their exes to keep them in the style to which they had become accustomed, while the men lived in cramped bedsits. When one man finally manages to remortgage his own home to keep a working mother in hers, her response is: “OK, so I can book a holiday.”
The programmes not only seek to explain why 40 per cent of fathers lose touch with their children within two years of divorce – the figure is likely to be even higher when unmarried parents separate – but also why this matters. Looking at the confused faces of children being fought over by parents like favourite toys, it was not difficult to imagine what might happen when they grew into teenagers, unsure about their loyalties and identities. Indeed, in the third programme, we see fatherless teenagers behaving appallingly.
The prospects for children who don’t see their fathers are bleak, according to a Unicef report in 2007. Educationally, they do less well. They are more likely to get in trouble with the police, and to abuse drugs and alcohol. They also find it more difficult to form relationships. If Broken Britain – that over-used moral call to arms – has roots, they lie in broken homes.
A third of children are now growing up without parents living under the same roof. Each of the 150,000 to 200,000 separations per year is a source of sadness for the children involved, children who yearn – however unrealistically – for mummy and daddy to live together happily ever after. But those partings can be handled more or less well. “The emotionally healthy 18 year-olds,” says Judge Nicholas Crichton, who works in the family courts, “are those who can say, 'Whatever happened between my parents, I knew I was loved and that I was free to love both parents without feeling guilty.’?”
Too few children are growing up with that balance. Ninety three per cent of children live with their mother after a separation, and half then lose touch with the non-resident parent. That’s a tragedy not only for the fathers, but for the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who would otherwise provide a support network for those children.
Acrimony is unavoidable when relationships end, but some couples, such as Chris and Angela in the first programme, succeed in suppressing their irritation with one another for the sake of their children. Why then do so many children lose a parent to this game of bitterness and revenge?
“Henry” (not his real name), who is seen in the second programme, tells me he blames a court system that is biased against fathers, as well as being expensive, slow and ineffectual. When his daughter was born, Henry wanted to be involved, even though he had subsequently married. In return for maintenance, he saw his daughter alternate weekends and took her on holiday. “She was a massive part of my life,” he says. “Then her mother decided to live abroad.”
He fought the move but, as in 99 per cent of cases, the mother won in court. “All a woman has to say is that refusal will psychologically damage her. There’s a view that whatever is in the mother’s interests is also in the child’s interests, even though nine out of 10 non-resident parents then lose touch.”
Henry did not wish to be one of them, but despite a “mirror order” giving him visiting rights and regular contact, he has had to fight for every glimpse and chat, at a cost of £70,000, putting considerable strain on his marriage. “When we meet it’s wonderful, but it’s hard to slot into a role if you haven’t seen a child regularly.”
During the whole court process he felt “like the puppet in the hands of a puppeteer”. He says: “I can understand why mothers use whatever power is at their disposal, but there was an imbalance.” Many fathers feel the same. “In order to be considered equal, you have to be twice as good,” says Simon Ramet, who has fought for half his child’s time. “The courts are still stuck in a 1950s paradigm of mothers doing the caring, and fathers doing the earning,” says John Davies, chief executive of Families Need Fathers.
Women are also more likely to get legal aid than fathers, who have to weigh up the cost of pursuing a case against the fear that the longer they go without seeing a child, the weaker their case for maintaining contact becomes. “As few parents with young children can afford it, access to the law often depends on having wealthy parents. It tends to be a middle-class privilege,” says Sara Feilden, producer for Films of Record, who made the BBC series.
Despite fears that speaking out will harm participants’ contact arrangements, Fielden is glad to have found the brief window of opportunity in which to tell their stories. Last year, it became legal to report on the family courts, but a Bill is going through Parliament that would make it impossible, once again, to film people who have been involved in family legal disputes. “It’s unlikely that we would ever again be able to make a programme about this important issue,” she says.
The men filmed are eager to highlight the shortcomings of an overburdened legal system. Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service), which appoints guardians to represent the child’s interests, is so stretched that it can take nine months to produce a report. When allegations of misconduct are made, contact is rightly refused until they have been investigated. But sometimes they are purely vexatious.
Families Need Fathers is fighting for a number of changes on behalf of all non-resident parents, mothers as well as fathers. These include publication of judgments so parents know what to expect (and may therefore avoid court), sanctions for those who make false allegations, and financial recognition that non-resident parents also have to maintain a home suitable for their children to visit.
The current system finds favour with few, least of all those whose lives are dominated by endless hearings and court orders. “You should be reasonable when splitting up,” says Juliette Thomas, who was brave enough to defend on air her reluctance to allow Alex, her ex, his share of their four sons’ time: she claimed lack of clarity in his plans. Unable to agree, the court process has made the gulf between them wider and Alex resentful.
Family breakdown is not unique to the UK, but some countries seem to handle it better. In Australia, an assumption of shared parenting was introduced four years ago, backed up by family centres where separating couples could be given information and counselling on sharing their children. More children are now staying in contact with both parents as a result.
Dr Mandy Bryon, chief psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, tells parents: “Whether you like it or not, you will remain in a relationship with one another as parents of your children.” To prepare for that, she believes couples need to acknowledge the errors in thinking that occur when people are angry and upset, and to anticipate the problems that cause flare- ups – late delivery back, changes of plans, and so on. “If parents are living together and a child comes back from a visit to the park with the father in tears, the mother will try to reassure both parties. If they are separated she will say, 'Never again.’ The father might ask the child not to tell Mummy. Then, when the child blurts out what Daddy said, the mother thinks something sinister is going on.”
Judge Crichton already sends many parents on courses to learn about sharing. If we adopted a system similar to the Australian one, that would be compulsory before a couple go to court. “A good thing too,” he says, “as the courts are not the best place to sort these matters out.”
Both the Labour and Conservative parties have reviewed the family-law system. Henry Bellingham, shadow justice minister, talks of introducing automatic shared contact, if the Conservatives are elected, and using Sue Start centres for counselling. Looking at the worried eyes of children caught up in disputes that they don’t understand, change can’t come too soon.
'Who Needs Fathers’ starts on BBC Two at 9pm next Wednesday
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Cleared of Cancer
The home test for bowel cancer was sent to me and I put it to the side. My wife Margaret nagged me to do it. I’m glad I did for I had only two years if I hadn’t.
I would like thank everyone who sent me their good wishes throughout the past year when I had ¾ of my colon removed due to bowel cancer. Today 28th September 2010 my blood and scan was absolutely fine. A colonoscopy will be done to make sure there are no new start ups which can be dealt with early on and check up tests in six months.
The man who worked this miracle and saved my life is Mr Alan Hair Surgeon at the Glasgow Victoria Hospital to him my heartfelt thanks and all the staff at the Victoria Infifmary.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
I would like thank everyone who sent me their good wishes throughout the past year when I had ¾ of my colon removed due to bowel cancer. Today 28th September 2010 my blood and scan was absolutely fine. A colonoscopy will be done to make sure there are no new start ups which can be dealt with early on and check up tests in six months.
The man who worked this miracle and saved my life is Mr Alan Hair Surgeon at the Glasgow Victoria Hospital to him my heartfelt thanks and all the staff at the Victoria Infifmary.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Thursday, September 23, 2010
GMTV are trying to help us establish Grandparents Day
GMTV is just off the phone and wants grandparents that have not been able to regain contact with their grandchildren. This is the contact for Daybreak GMTV. ali.lutz@itv.com 0207 827 7269 Please send her your story. It will probably be only taken as proof of what we are tying to do. So please make this effort. Iit is a remendous chance to get the publicity we need to raise the profile of Grandparents. Margaret and i have been asked to appear on GMTV for Grandparents Day. It is long 2 days and very strenous for us so please don't let us down.
jimmy
jimmy
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Grandparents View (Of Nick Clegg's speech)
Maybe it’s an age thing but have we not heard all this before. Like the hype of so called movies we’ve seen and heard it all before. Nick Clegg’s speech was obviously a personal bid for power and glory and was a futile attempt to cover up the betrayal of his own party members
Lib Dem policies were voted for but they got Conservative rubbish instead. How can a man like that be trusted to be deputy PM in running a country, making the poor and needy cringe about the dismal future that lies ahead for them and their children.
How the coalition betrayed Grandparents. Grandparents Apart UK has written to Mr Nick Clegg for an explanation of their election scam of promising more rights for English Grandparents. His reply to our letter was he has passed it on to the appropriate department. We have not received any explanation at all from any government dept.
The scam is the removal of the need to get a courts permission to raise a contact action. We have had thousands contacting us thinking they were getting more rights but in actual fact Scotland has already worked this way for years and it has cost a lot of our members dearly.
Let us not forget the Scottish Government’s scam of a Granny Grant another election election gimmick by Alec Salmond. The Granny Grant was only payable to Grannies that underwent foster-carer training courses. What an insult to Grandparents that have successfully raised children to be doctors, professors etc.
The promoting of mediation and family group conferences for bridge building and updating relationship between grandparents and parents would be a more appropriate way for bringing families together.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Lib Dem policies were voted for but they got Conservative rubbish instead. How can a man like that be trusted to be deputy PM in running a country, making the poor and needy cringe about the dismal future that lies ahead for them and their children.
How the coalition betrayed Grandparents. Grandparents Apart UK has written to Mr Nick Clegg for an explanation of their election scam of promising more rights for English Grandparents. His reply to our letter was he has passed it on to the appropriate department. We have not received any explanation at all from any government dept.
The scam is the removal of the need to get a courts permission to raise a contact action. We have had thousands contacting us thinking they were getting more rights but in actual fact Scotland has already worked this way for years and it has cost a lot of our members dearly.
Let us not forget the Scottish Government’s scam of a Granny Grant another election election gimmick by Alec Salmond. The Granny Grant was only payable to Grannies that underwent foster-carer training courses. What an insult to Grandparents that have successfully raised children to be doctors, professors etc.
The promoting of mediation and family group conferences for bridge building and updating relationship between grandparents and parents would be a more appropriate way for bringing families together.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Protest to Government over lack of consideration for children.
The whole story.
More Child neglect More Crime more tax to pay for it.
The Scottish Governments plan for 45p per unit of alcohol shows of their failure in not properly thinking out the effects of their proposal on children and their failure to grasp the far reaching addictive nature of alcohol.
An alcoholic or drug addict will not change because of price they will always find a way. The addicted alcoholic as well as drug addicts is forever on the lookout for the next drink or fix and superficial thinking like cost will not deter their need for the drug.
Supermarkets will rake in millions with the increase. No wonder they are for it. But who will fund the increase of crime, child neglect and abuse this will bring about.
We must treat this problem at the root source where change can be brought about. The care and treatment of children must be a priority. Children who are not treated right are the criminals and gang members of the future. The care, stability and love must be done by kinship care like grandparents whose only concern is their welfare and love for the children. Forced adoption or farming out to people or institutions seldom cater for the whole of childrens needs.
We are convinced this government is ignoring the best interests of the child for politics. When this government came into power Grandparents Apart UK was summoned to a meeting with the children’s minister and we asked questions but got no answers and told them so.
The government then placed the responsibility for the Charter for Grandchildren to the local authorities. SNP MSP’s who were taking up the cause for Charter for Grandchildren backed off because we work in the child’s best interest and not theirs.
Children are the future and it is everyone’s responsibility if you want to sleep safer in your beds at night.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Reply from Mike Russell MSP
Dear Mr. Deuchars,
Thank you for you email of 3rd September regarding your concerns about the 45p
minimum price per unit on alcohol. .
While the issues you raise are pertinent, the Scottish Government's policy on minimum pricing is based on sound research and support from a wide range of interests, including the British Medical Association, the World Health Association, Tennants, the UK's four Chief Medical Officers, Molson Coors, the Children's Commissioner, the Royal College of Physicians and Scotland's churches. The Scottish Government's proposal of minimum pricing at 45 p per unit is
widely recognised as offering real benefits for public health, the economy and public
services.
A survey was recently conducted with organisations from across the political, social and business spectrums, including police, local authorities, the licensing body, industry, health, consumer, children and young people, alcohol and academic. 56% of all submissions expressed support for minimum pricing. If you exclude those submissions that were unclear or made no comment, then of the rest that clearly expressed an opinion on minimum pricing, 79% were in favour.
It has been shown elsewhere that minimum pricing can have ~ dramatic impact on the reduction of alcohol abuse, which is why the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon has fought so hard 'to develop this policy. While it is not a magic bullet, I'm confident that the positive knock-on effects of this policy will be seen throughout Scottish society.
Yours Sincerely,
Michael Russell MSP
Reoly to Mike Russell MSP
Dear Mr Russell,
Your letter above still does not mention safeguards that need to be put in place to protect children from alcohol problem families who will still get their drink no matter what the cost and it is the children who will lose out.
I am totally shocked that the Commissioner for Children and Children and Schools has supported this without concerns for the danger. If these concerns had been raised you would not have been long in putting me right..
I was at St Pauls School in Pollok for www.glasgowgrand.org where quite a few alcohol addiction groups had tables set up for the general public. I’m afraid the front line workers were more likely to agree with our views on how this effect will have on children than the directors of organisations who fail to spot these dangers.
The increased neglect/abuse that will surely occur will put more pressure on our dear social services and safeguards will be needed to protect our children. The Charter for Grandchildren should be mandatory for professionals who work in this area or an explanation why they have not consulted with the grandparents or extended family. Who better to recognise early detection of child neglect/abuse than grandparents? Who better to keep a child in a stable home environment rather than have the life frightened out of them by taking them away from those they know and love than their grandparents? Who is the biggest cares of child in the world?
It seems your government would rather pay Bernardo’s or others around £400 per week of tax payer’s money to demoralise children then force adopt them to strangers.
All the promises of a Granny Grant from SNP came to nothing and it is a total insult to grandparents when you tell them they need to train to look after children to get it. Was it another get out from your promises? To make matters worse SNP booted out The Charter for Grandchildren out and the SNP MSPs that were supporting the Charter dropped us like a ton of bricks.
My only interest is our children and as far as I am personally concerned SNP have no real policies for the welfare of children or their grandparents.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
More Child neglect More Crime more tax to pay for it.
The Scottish Governments plan for 45p per unit of alcohol shows of their failure in not properly thinking out the effects of their proposal on children and their failure to grasp the far reaching addictive nature of alcohol.
An alcoholic or drug addict will not change because of price they will always find a way. The addicted alcoholic as well as drug addicts is forever on the lookout for the next drink or fix and superficial thinking like cost will not deter their need for the drug.
Supermarkets will rake in millions with the increase. No wonder they are for it. But who will fund the increase of crime, child neglect and abuse this will bring about.
We must treat this problem at the root source where change can be brought about. The care and treatment of children must be a priority. Children who are not treated right are the criminals and gang members of the future. The care, stability and love must be done by kinship care like grandparents whose only concern is their welfare and love for the children. Forced adoption or farming out to people or institutions seldom cater for the whole of childrens needs.
We are convinced this government is ignoring the best interests of the child for politics. When this government came into power Grandparents Apart UK was summoned to a meeting with the children’s minister and we asked questions but got no answers and told them so.
The government then placed the responsibility for the Charter for Grandchildren to the local authorities. SNP MSP’s who were taking up the cause for Charter for Grandchildren backed off because we work in the child’s best interest and not theirs.
Children are the future and it is everyone’s responsibility if you want to sleep safer in your beds at night.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Reply from Mike Russell MSP
Dear Mr. Deuchars,
Thank you for you email of 3rd September regarding your concerns about the 45p
minimum price per unit on alcohol. .
While the issues you raise are pertinent, the Scottish Government's policy on minimum pricing is based on sound research and support from a wide range of interests, including the British Medical Association, the World Health Association, Tennants, the UK's four Chief Medical Officers, Molson Coors, the Children's Commissioner, the Royal College of Physicians and Scotland's churches. The Scottish Government's proposal of minimum pricing at 45 p per unit is
widely recognised as offering real benefits for public health, the economy and public
services.
A survey was recently conducted with organisations from across the political, social and business spectrums, including police, local authorities, the licensing body, industry, health, consumer, children and young people, alcohol and academic. 56% of all submissions expressed support for minimum pricing. If you exclude those submissions that were unclear or made no comment, then of the rest that clearly expressed an opinion on minimum pricing, 79% were in favour.
It has been shown elsewhere that minimum pricing can have ~ dramatic impact on the reduction of alcohol abuse, which is why the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon has fought so hard 'to develop this policy. While it is not a magic bullet, I'm confident that the positive knock-on effects of this policy will be seen throughout Scottish society.
Yours Sincerely,
Michael Russell MSP
Reoly to Mike Russell MSP
Dear Mr Russell,
Your letter above still does not mention safeguards that need to be put in place to protect children from alcohol problem families who will still get their drink no matter what the cost and it is the children who will lose out.
I am totally shocked that the Commissioner for Children and Children and Schools has supported this without concerns for the danger. If these concerns had been raised you would not have been long in putting me right..
I was at St Pauls School in Pollok for www.glasgowgrand.org where quite a few alcohol addiction groups had tables set up for the general public. I’m afraid the front line workers were more likely to agree with our views on how this effect will have on children than the directors of organisations who fail to spot these dangers.
The increased neglect/abuse that will surely occur will put more pressure on our dear social services and safeguards will be needed to protect our children. The Charter for Grandchildren should be mandatory for professionals who work in this area or an explanation why they have not consulted with the grandparents or extended family. Who better to recognise early detection of child neglect/abuse than grandparents? Who better to keep a child in a stable home environment rather than have the life frightened out of them by taking them away from those they know and love than their grandparents? Who is the biggest cares of child in the world?
It seems your government would rather pay Bernardo’s or others around £400 per week of tax payer’s money to demoralise children then force adopt them to strangers.
All the promises of a Granny Grant from SNP came to nothing and it is a total insult to grandparents when you tell them they need to train to look after children to get it. Was it another get out from your promises? To make matters worse SNP booted out The Charter for Grandchildren out and the SNP MSPs that were supporting the Charter dropped us like a ton of bricks.
My only interest is our children and as far as I am personally concerned SNP have no real policies for the welfare of children or their grandparents.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Friday, September 17, 2010
Petition to: introduce effective reforms
Petition to:
1) introduce effective reforms to better detect and tackle child abuse and neglect
This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to
1) introduce effective reforms to better detect & tackle child abuse & neglect
2) abolish parole & increase all minimum & maximum sentences for crimes relating to child abuse & neglect and introduce a maximum tariff of Life for conviction of the death of a child through abuse or neglect
3) conduct full public inquiries into all councils that repeatedly fail in their duty to protect at risk children. More details
Submitted by Dee Murrell – Deadline to sign up by: 02 March 2010 – Signatures: 1,825
More details from petition creator
The preventable deaths of Baby P & all like him are a clear indictment of Britain's failure to protect vulnerable children & too frequent over-lenient sentences for child abuse & related deaths convey that as a nation we tolerate such abuse & murder.
Effective measures need to be adopted to recognise & tackle child abuse at its earliest stages. Lord Laming's recommendations excluded how Social Workers could better perform their jobs on the front line when visiting children at risk, where improvements & clear nationwide guidelines are urgently needed!
The ongoing abuse of a child culminating in their death is far worse than outright murder. So all child abuse related deaths should carry a discretionary life sentence & all participants are equally responsible regardless of who did the abuse & who allowed the abuse to go on unchallenged.
As a nation we wish to say that we will no longer tolerate these heinous crimes against our youngest & most vulnerable.
*Abuse includes neglect http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectchildren1/
Government response
We want to ensure that all children and parents receive the support and care they need.
A key way in which healthcare professionals can ensure that all children are safe is through The Healthy Child Programme. The Healthy Child Programme is delivered by health visiting teams and includes health and development reviews alongside national screening and immunisation programmes beginning at birth through to five.
These health and development reviews and checks provide a key opportunity for members of the health visiting team to see the baby and carer and to take any action if they have concerns, referring to other agencies as necessary. All healthcare professionals should be alert to risk factors and signs and symptoms of child abuse and should follow local child protection procedures where there is cause for concern.
In the Coalition Agreement we set out a range of commitments to support all families, including those most in need of help. We announced that Sure Start centres would refocus so early intervention and meeting the needs of the neediest families was at the heart of their work. We also made clear that we would better involve organisations with strong track records of supporting families so they support this provision. In addition, we announced new funding to pay for 4,200 extra Sure Start health visitors to give greater support for services to those families and children.
Not only are we taking action to focus Sure Start and increase staff numbers, but we have also invited Professor Eileen Munro to review child protection in England to develop alternative models that ensure social workers are not caught up in bureaucracy and will be able to spend as much time with families and children as possible
Petition to:
1) introduce effective reforms to better detect and tackle child abuse and neglect
This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to 1) introduce effective reforms to better detect & tackle child abuse & neglect 2) abolish parole & increase all minimum & maximum sentences for crimes relating to child abuse & neglect and introduce a maximum tariff of Life for conviction of the death of a child through abuse or neglect 3) conduct full public inquiries into all councils that repeatedly fail in their duty to protect at risk children. More details
Submitted by Dee Murrell – Deadline to sign up by: 02 March 2010 – Signatures: 1,825
More details from petition creator
The preventable deaths of Baby P & all like him are a clear indictment of Britain's failure to protect vulnerable children & too frequent over-lenient sentences for child abuse & related deaths convey that as a nation we tolerate such abuse & murder.
Effective measures need to be adopted to recognise & tackle child abuse at its earliest stages. Lord Laming's recommendations excluded how Social Workers could better perform their jobs on the front line when visiting children at risk, where improvements & clear nationwide guidelines are urgently needed!
The ongoing abuse of a child culminating in their death is far worse than outright murder. So all child abuse related deaths should carry a discretionary life sentence & all participants are equally responsible regardless of who did the abuse & who allowed the abuse to go on unchallenged.
As a nation we wish to say that we will no longer tolerate these heinous crimes against our youngest & most vulnerable.
*Abuse includes neglect http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectchildren1/
Government response
We want to ensure that all children and parents receive the support and care they need.
A key way in which healthcare professionals can ensure that all children are safe is through The Healthy Child Programme. The Healthy Child Programme is delivered by health visiting teams and includes health and development reviews alongside national screening and immunisation programmes beginning at birth through to five.
These health and development reviews and checks provide a key opportunity for members of the health visiting team to see the baby and carer and to take any action if they have concerns, referring to other agencies as necessary. All healthcare professionals should be alert to risk factors and signs and symptoms of child abuse and should follow local child protection procedures where there is cause for concern.
In the Coalition Agreement we set out a range of commitments to support all families, including those most in need of help. We announced that Sure Start centres would refocus so early intervention and meeting the needs of the neediest families was at the heart of their work. We also made clear that we would better involve organisations with strong track records of supporting families so they support this provision. In addition, we announced new funding to pay for 4,200 extra Sure Start health visitors to give greater support for services to those families and children.
Not only are we taking action to focus Sure Start and increase staff numbers, but we have also invited Professor Eileen Munro to review child protection in England to develop alternative models that ensure social workers are not caught up in bureaucracy and will be able to spend as much time with families and children as possible
1) introduce effective reforms to better detect and tackle child abuse and neglect
This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to
1) introduce effective reforms to better detect & tackle child abuse & neglect
2) abolish parole & increase all minimum & maximum sentences for crimes relating to child abuse & neglect and introduce a maximum tariff of Life for conviction of the death of a child through abuse or neglect
3) conduct full public inquiries into all councils that repeatedly fail in their duty to protect at risk children. More details
Submitted by Dee Murrell – Deadline to sign up by: 02 March 2010 – Signatures: 1,825
More details from petition creator
The preventable deaths of Baby P & all like him are a clear indictment of Britain's failure to protect vulnerable children & too frequent over-lenient sentences for child abuse & related deaths convey that as a nation we tolerate such abuse & murder.
Effective measures need to be adopted to recognise & tackle child abuse at its earliest stages. Lord Laming's recommendations excluded how Social Workers could better perform their jobs on the front line when visiting children at risk, where improvements & clear nationwide guidelines are urgently needed!
The ongoing abuse of a child culminating in their death is far worse than outright murder. So all child abuse related deaths should carry a discretionary life sentence & all participants are equally responsible regardless of who did the abuse & who allowed the abuse to go on unchallenged.
As a nation we wish to say that we will no longer tolerate these heinous crimes against our youngest & most vulnerable.
*Abuse includes neglect http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectchildren1/
Government response
We want to ensure that all children and parents receive the support and care they need.
A key way in which healthcare professionals can ensure that all children are safe is through The Healthy Child Programme. The Healthy Child Programme is delivered by health visiting teams and includes health and development reviews alongside national screening and immunisation programmes beginning at birth through to five.
These health and development reviews and checks provide a key opportunity for members of the health visiting team to see the baby and carer and to take any action if they have concerns, referring to other agencies as necessary. All healthcare professionals should be alert to risk factors and signs and symptoms of child abuse and should follow local child protection procedures where there is cause for concern.
In the Coalition Agreement we set out a range of commitments to support all families, including those most in need of help. We announced that Sure Start centres would refocus so early intervention and meeting the needs of the neediest families was at the heart of their work. We also made clear that we would better involve organisations with strong track records of supporting families so they support this provision. In addition, we announced new funding to pay for 4,200 extra Sure Start health visitors to give greater support for services to those families and children.
Not only are we taking action to focus Sure Start and increase staff numbers, but we have also invited Professor Eileen Munro to review child protection in England to develop alternative models that ensure social workers are not caught up in bureaucracy and will be able to spend as much time with families and children as possible
Petition to:
1) introduce effective reforms to better detect and tackle child abuse and neglect
This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to 1) introduce effective reforms to better detect & tackle child abuse & neglect 2) abolish parole & increase all minimum & maximum sentences for crimes relating to child abuse & neglect and introduce a maximum tariff of Life for conviction of the death of a child through abuse or neglect 3) conduct full public inquiries into all councils that repeatedly fail in their duty to protect at risk children. More details
Submitted by Dee Murrell – Deadline to sign up by: 02 March 2010 – Signatures: 1,825
More details from petition creator
The preventable deaths of Baby P & all like him are a clear indictment of Britain's failure to protect vulnerable children & too frequent over-lenient sentences for child abuse & related deaths convey that as a nation we tolerate such abuse & murder.
Effective measures need to be adopted to recognise & tackle child abuse at its earliest stages. Lord Laming's recommendations excluded how Social Workers could better perform their jobs on the front line when visiting children at risk, where improvements & clear nationwide guidelines are urgently needed!
The ongoing abuse of a child culminating in their death is far worse than outright murder. So all child abuse related deaths should carry a discretionary life sentence & all participants are equally responsible regardless of who did the abuse & who allowed the abuse to go on unchallenged.
As a nation we wish to say that we will no longer tolerate these heinous crimes against our youngest & most vulnerable.
*Abuse includes neglect http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectchildren1/
Government response
We want to ensure that all children and parents receive the support and care they need.
A key way in which healthcare professionals can ensure that all children are safe is through The Healthy Child Programme. The Healthy Child Programme is delivered by health visiting teams and includes health and development reviews alongside national screening and immunisation programmes beginning at birth through to five.
These health and development reviews and checks provide a key opportunity for members of the health visiting team to see the baby and carer and to take any action if they have concerns, referring to other agencies as necessary. All healthcare professionals should be alert to risk factors and signs and symptoms of child abuse and should follow local child protection procedures where there is cause for concern.
In the Coalition Agreement we set out a range of commitments to support all families, including those most in need of help. We announced that Sure Start centres would refocus so early intervention and meeting the needs of the neediest families was at the heart of their work. We also made clear that we would better involve organisations with strong track records of supporting families so they support this provision. In addition, we announced new funding to pay for 4,200 extra Sure Start health visitors to give greater support for services to those families and children.
Not only are we taking action to focus Sure Start and increase staff numbers, but we have also invited Professor Eileen Munro to review child protection in England to develop alternative models that ensure social workers are not caught up in bureaucracy and will be able to spend as much time with families and children as possible
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Want to go on GM.TV for Grandparents Day.
GM.TV
Are looking for grandparents to appear on TV with a good story to celebrate Grandparents Day for 1st October.
Contact Jimmy 0141 882 5658
Are looking for grandparents to appear on TV with a good story to celebrate Grandparents Day for 1st October.
Contact Jimmy 0141 882 5658
Grandparents Apart UK Interview on Sunny Govan Radio
Sonny Govan Community Radio 103.5fm
Listen on line in broad Glaswegian at www.sunnygovan.org
An interview about Grandparents Apart UK. Jimmy and Margaret tell their story of how the charity came about. Around 12.15pm Wednesday 15th September 2010
Listen on line in broad Glaswegian at www.sunnygovan.org
An interview about Grandparents Apart UK. Jimmy and Margaret tell their story of how the charity came about. Around 12.15pm Wednesday 15th September 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
UK Grandparents Day
Grandparents Day
1ST October 2010
THE BIGGEST CARERS OF CHILDREN IN THE WORLD.
For years we have had different dates for Grandparents Day.
So we at Grandparents Apart UK have settled on the 1st October every year from now on. This day is also Older Peoples Day and it will be easier to remember for grandparents who are Older People.
The nearest Sunday to the 1st October would be a great family day for thanking grandparents for baby sitting etc. and showing them how much you love and care for them.
-Why God Made-
Grandparents
God looked down on all his children
And decided then and there
That a grandparent was needed
To give special love and care
They’d tell lots of happy stories
Or know special games to play
And with tender hugs and kisses
They’d chase children’s tears away
God thought of all the lovely things
They’d do to make life fun
And so he created grandparents
To be loved by everyone.
Issued by:-
Grandparents Apart UK, 22 Alness crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJ, 0141 882 5658
A Scottish Registered Charity No:- SC 031 558 Serving the UK
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
1ST October 2010
THE BIGGEST CARERS OF CHILDREN IN THE WORLD.
For years we have had different dates for Grandparents Day.
So we at Grandparents Apart UK have settled on the 1st October every year from now on. This day is also Older Peoples Day and it will be easier to remember for grandparents who are Older People.
The nearest Sunday to the 1st October would be a great family day for thanking grandparents for baby sitting etc. and showing them how much you love and care for them.
-Why God Made-
Grandparents
God looked down on all his children
And decided then and there
That a grandparent was needed
To give special love and care
They’d tell lots of happy stories
Or know special games to play
And with tender hugs and kisses
They’d chase children’s tears away
God thought of all the lovely things
They’d do to make life fun
And so he created grandparents
To be loved by everyone.
Issued by:-
Grandparents Apart UK, 22 Alness crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJ, 0141 882 5658
A Scottish Registered Charity No:- SC 031 558 Serving the UK
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Good news for Alison
Thank you for the information you kindly sent me however as you know I have had eight years of trying to have access to meet my grandchildren.
Three weeks ago my eldest son came up to stay with me and we had a wonderful time He will be 33 on Tuesday next week and I had to take his birthday present down to Richmond Yorkshire yesterday for him.
Today Saturday we met and I gave him his presents. He brought his eldest Son Luke with him to meet me for the First time. I am a very humbled person after the meeting and. My son promises to allow me to meet his other son Lewis very soon When I am next down in Yorkshire 200miles from my home. I am on Cloud nine today what a day it has been.
Thank you for your support
Alison
Three weeks ago my eldest son came up to stay with me and we had a wonderful time He will be 33 on Tuesday next week and I had to take his birthday present down to Richmond Yorkshire yesterday for him.
Today Saturday we met and I gave him his presents. He brought his eldest Son Luke with him to meet me for the First time. I am a very humbled person after the meeting and. My son promises to allow me to meet his other son Lewis very soon When I am next down in Yorkshire 200miles from my home. I am on Cloud nine today what a day it has been.
Thank you for your support
Alison
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Role of the Registered Social Worker
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/07140258/0
The Role of the Registered Social Worker in Contributing to Better Outcomes for Scotland: Guidance for Local Authorities
This must not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. The Social Work services in this country, as you all should know, are not accountable to anyone. No matter what the government would like to portray.
I have spent 5 years trying to seek some ”Accountability “ with NO official assistance from the state .Have you ever tried to complain about 7 years of the abuse of your young child and the systemic failures that led to those horrific circumstances , including the failings of police, Sw, GP’s health workers, teachers etc. have you ever tried to compile 3000 documents that incorporate 7 years of lies ,abuse neglect, untruths, errors, both willful and genuinely incompetent and then put all that in a form that can be readily understood and used to make a complaint. Have you ever tried to place all of that in a complaints form, such as those you receive from the SSSC? You should have a go, I bet you can’t do it.
To remove responsibility (accountability) from the other agencies will only further reduce the level of scrutiny (which is currently almost zero) still further.
In my own case ,I came up against a SW department that having failed to protect my child from abuse and neglect including human bites, strangulation and far too many assaults over a large number of years. Decided that it was in “their best interests” to attack the referrer and engage in a “cover up” than deal with their failings and protect an innocent young child.
Quote from my QC
The language used betrayed the inadequacies of the SWD - in my submission - DH (Social work dept) often spoke of 'isolated incidents.' I submit it is impossible to see how this could be unless (a) the witness was unwilling or was unable to face reality or (b) was attempting, after the fact, to cover-up failure.
I submit it was a bit of both I submit, in fact, having considered the matter carefully, that elements of the conduct of the SWD in this case were cruel. Having decided what they would have liked to have been the case the SWD ignored what was the case and let a child suffer. . What happened on the only occasion when the court has something approaching a proper record (CP interview) was that “A” was harmed not helped.
There was the only interview that had even the pretence of being a properly recorded interview of “A”, in all the time his safety was in issue and this weighed against X and X and for “E”, that is, for “A”, for what “A” had been saying almost forever, almost to everyone. He was led in questioning. He was asked questions and when these did not suit the SWD's book he was asked again until they did but, despite, the best efforts of the SWD to clear X and X, I submit, it is clear from this statement (as it should have been clear to the SWD) that “A” was being seriously and damagingly abused.
The record made by the SWD was inherently flawed - even within its four corners. Even if everything else had been perfect the way this interview was conducted and recorded would have been sufficient, in my submission, to undermine the rest of the evidence for the SWD. The truly staggering thing is that this interview/report was the best - the best - the SWD had to offer - and it was inadequate to the point that it was dangerous - indeed, in fact, it left “A” in danger.
As a result of these “CRIMINAL” actions and failures I found myself and my advisors, including Annabelle Goldie MSP (quote “every avenue approached has seen the door firmly slammed shut with no answer received ”)and two local councillors, blocked at every level of the Local authority SW’s complaints process.
This ultimately resulted in my “official complaints, being suspended, before they were even heard “, Which were of course (backed by overwhelming and irrefutable evidence, of the type that no local authority would be comfortable with ), being faced with no where else to go, I then recognised that the police also had a statutory duty of care to my child and that they were also fully ”Accountable “ for their actions / inactions and could be held to be so, so I attended, reported and then pursued these through the official police complaints process.
Lo and behold, Police have now issued an apology for failing my young child and myself on at least 12 occasions dating back 6 years and have stated clearly that “every line of enquiry, firmly points its finger at the SW” (misrepresenting evidence etc.)
Without this ”Accountability “ that the police hold, I would have been left with no recourse to an agency (Sw) that was “hell bent” on protecting their own salaries and mortgages and as a direct result my child would have been left to continue to receive the horrific beatings, neglect and abuse meted out to him, spanning almost his entire young life.
If, we remove ”Accountability “ from these other agencies, then it is clear that both we and our children will loose a valuable route, that is the only remaining, viable counter balance to these wrongs, that is, once the Local Authority accept complete ”Accountability “, we as parents or service users would have no-where to turn when grave errors and indeed in some cases, corrupt authorities decide to conspire, cover-up or indeed genuinely make a complete hash of their investigations. Which as we all should now know, SW are capable of conducting, almost on a daily basis, see Caleb Ness, Victoria Climbie, baby P or Brandon Muir.
We need more ”Accountability “, not less and certainly not the handing of a blanket piece of control to SW and their oft corrupt, unanswerable, all powerful council authorities and incompetent “not fit for purpose” governing body the SSSC. (I made a formal complaint to the SSSC in may 2005), they still have made no decision, yes 4 years, for 3 of those years they have continued to allow the same worker to oversee a further 3 years of abuse and neglect of my child “criminal neglect in my view and yet you wish to remove ”Accountability “ from agencies that truly can be held “accountable” and place it with the might and power of Social workers and their authorities who cannot?. ARE YOU CRAZY?
To remove ”Accountability “ from the police and other agencies may indeed save valuable resources, time and effort but it is WRONG, so wrong on every fundamental level and one of the most dangerous propositions for the safety and wellbeing of our children I have yet to hear.
What is required is equal and even more ”Accountability “ for all agencies involved in child protection, after all theses agencies are supposed to be equal partners in these investigations and that is the point that should be promoted and openly encouraged.
If, I had been left solely to deal with the SW and the Local authority, then I would no longer see my child and I fear that we would once again, be reading horrific news headlines. If indeed you place sole ”Accountability “with SW then in effect, other agencies can and I submit will, take a step back when things are wrong and distance themselves from the real problems .We need complete inter agency co-operation and ”Accountability “,not that ,which you propose.
When it comes to matters of this nature, more often than not, they come under the banner of being criminal, why? Therefore, would you even consider giving ”Accountability “ to Sw for criminal matters?
The Role of the Registered Social Worker in Contributing to Better Outcomes for Scotland: Guidance for Local Authorities
This must not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. The Social Work services in this country, as you all should know, are not accountable to anyone. No matter what the government would like to portray.
I have spent 5 years trying to seek some ”Accountability “ with NO official assistance from the state .Have you ever tried to complain about 7 years of the abuse of your young child and the systemic failures that led to those horrific circumstances , including the failings of police, Sw, GP’s health workers, teachers etc. have you ever tried to compile 3000 documents that incorporate 7 years of lies ,abuse neglect, untruths, errors, both willful and genuinely incompetent and then put all that in a form that can be readily understood and used to make a complaint. Have you ever tried to place all of that in a complaints form, such as those you receive from the SSSC? You should have a go, I bet you can’t do it.
To remove responsibility (accountability) from the other agencies will only further reduce the level of scrutiny (which is currently almost zero) still further.
In my own case ,I came up against a SW department that having failed to protect my child from abuse and neglect including human bites, strangulation and far too many assaults over a large number of years. Decided that it was in “their best interests” to attack the referrer and engage in a “cover up” than deal with their failings and protect an innocent young child.
Quote from my QC
The language used betrayed the inadequacies of the SWD - in my submission - DH (Social work dept) often spoke of 'isolated incidents.' I submit it is impossible to see how this could be unless (a) the witness was unwilling or was unable to face reality or (b) was attempting, after the fact, to cover-up failure.
I submit it was a bit of both I submit, in fact, having considered the matter carefully, that elements of the conduct of the SWD in this case were cruel. Having decided what they would have liked to have been the case the SWD ignored what was the case and let a child suffer. . What happened on the only occasion when the court has something approaching a proper record (CP interview) was that “A” was harmed not helped.
There was the only interview that had even the pretence of being a properly recorded interview of “A”, in all the time his safety was in issue and this weighed against X and X and for “E”, that is, for “A”, for what “A” had been saying almost forever, almost to everyone. He was led in questioning. He was asked questions and when these did not suit the SWD's book he was asked again until they did but, despite, the best efforts of the SWD to clear X and X, I submit, it is clear from this statement (as it should have been clear to the SWD) that “A” was being seriously and damagingly abused.
The record made by the SWD was inherently flawed - even within its four corners. Even if everything else had been perfect the way this interview was conducted and recorded would have been sufficient, in my submission, to undermine the rest of the evidence for the SWD. The truly staggering thing is that this interview/report was the best - the best - the SWD had to offer - and it was inadequate to the point that it was dangerous - indeed, in fact, it left “A” in danger.
As a result of these “CRIMINAL” actions and failures I found myself and my advisors, including Annabelle Goldie MSP (quote “every avenue approached has seen the door firmly slammed shut with no answer received ”)and two local councillors, blocked at every level of the Local authority SW’s complaints process.
This ultimately resulted in my “official complaints, being suspended, before they were even heard “, Which were of course (backed by overwhelming and irrefutable evidence, of the type that no local authority would be comfortable with ), being faced with no where else to go, I then recognised that the police also had a statutory duty of care to my child and that they were also fully ”Accountable “ for their actions / inactions and could be held to be so, so I attended, reported and then pursued these through the official police complaints process.
Lo and behold, Police have now issued an apology for failing my young child and myself on at least 12 occasions dating back 6 years and have stated clearly that “every line of enquiry, firmly points its finger at the SW” (misrepresenting evidence etc.)
Without this ”Accountability “ that the police hold, I would have been left with no recourse to an agency (Sw) that was “hell bent” on protecting their own salaries and mortgages and as a direct result my child would have been left to continue to receive the horrific beatings, neglect and abuse meted out to him, spanning almost his entire young life.
If, we remove ”Accountability “ from these other agencies, then it is clear that both we and our children will loose a valuable route, that is the only remaining, viable counter balance to these wrongs, that is, once the Local Authority accept complete ”Accountability “, we as parents or service users would have no-where to turn when grave errors and indeed in some cases, corrupt authorities decide to conspire, cover-up or indeed genuinely make a complete hash of their investigations. Which as we all should now know, SW are capable of conducting, almost on a daily basis, see Caleb Ness, Victoria Climbie, baby P or Brandon Muir.
We need more ”Accountability “, not less and certainly not the handing of a blanket piece of control to SW and their oft corrupt, unanswerable, all powerful council authorities and incompetent “not fit for purpose” governing body the SSSC. (I made a formal complaint to the SSSC in may 2005), they still have made no decision, yes 4 years, for 3 of those years they have continued to allow the same worker to oversee a further 3 years of abuse and neglect of my child “criminal neglect in my view and yet you wish to remove ”Accountability “ from agencies that truly can be held “accountable” and place it with the might and power of Social workers and their authorities who cannot?. ARE YOU CRAZY?
To remove ”Accountability “ from the police and other agencies may indeed save valuable resources, time and effort but it is WRONG, so wrong on every fundamental level and one of the most dangerous propositions for the safety and wellbeing of our children I have yet to hear.
What is required is equal and even more ”Accountability “ for all agencies involved in child protection, after all theses agencies are supposed to be equal partners in these investigations and that is the point that should be promoted and openly encouraged.
If, I had been left solely to deal with the SW and the Local authority, then I would no longer see my child and I fear that we would once again, be reading horrific news headlines. If indeed you place sole ”Accountability “with SW then in effect, other agencies can and I submit will, take a step back when things are wrong and distance themselves from the real problems .We need complete inter agency co-operation and ”Accountability “,not that ,which you propose.
When it comes to matters of this nature, more often than not, they come under the banner of being criminal, why? Therefore, would you even consider giving ”Accountability “ to Sw for criminal matters?
Friday, September 10, 2010
A very worthwhile Demo in London
Dear All,
I have been a campaigner against forced adoption and for opening-up the so-called 'Family' Courts for some years now, since I was forbidden by the one at Oxford from seeing my only child or having any news of her. I was a member of Fathers 4 Justice and am now part of 'New' Fathers 4 Justice and campaigned for the Equal Parenting Alliance Party in the General Election. I was adopted at birth (62 years ago!) and am a step-grandfather. A group of us are organising a demonstration in London on the 30th. September which is not only my birthday but the last day those affected by the present system can hand in their comments in the 'call for evidence' asked for by the Ministry of Justice. We are handing-in a specimen statement as a symbolic gesture, as we are very sceptical of yet another review, the panel consisting of many who would benefit by keeping the status-quo. There is not one disenfranchised parent on that panel.
We would like as many people to attend this as possible, grandparents, parents and children, any who have been affected and hurt by the present system. The statement to be handed-in has not been finalised yet and we will liase with as many parties as possible about its final content; but it will be a hard-hitting one. I am telling you all this because I felt you may have the will and the means to spread the word. Official start-time for the demo is 11-30, the handing-in 'ceremony' would be about 12-30, at the Ministry of Justice building in Petty France, near St. James' Park Station.
Please contact me at my address below.
With many thanks for your time,
Yours sincerely,
Roger Crawford
Roger Crawford, The Pigling, Woodview Nurseries, Shefford Rd, Meppershall. Beds SG17 5LL. Mob 07849-522180, Tel 01462-814575,
Email Roger jester-rog@talktalk.net
I have been a campaigner against forced adoption and for opening-up the so-called 'Family' Courts for some years now, since I was forbidden by the one at Oxford from seeing my only child or having any news of her. I was a member of Fathers 4 Justice and am now part of 'New' Fathers 4 Justice and campaigned for the Equal Parenting Alliance Party in the General Election. I was adopted at birth (62 years ago!) and am a step-grandfather. A group of us are organising a demonstration in London on the 30th. September which is not only my birthday but the last day those affected by the present system can hand in their comments in the 'call for evidence' asked for by the Ministry of Justice. We are handing-in a specimen statement as a symbolic gesture, as we are very sceptical of yet another review, the panel consisting of many who would benefit by keeping the status-quo. There is not one disenfranchised parent on that panel.
We would like as many people to attend this as possible, grandparents, parents and children, any who have been affected and hurt by the present system. The statement to be handed-in has not been finalised yet and we will liase with as many parties as possible about its final content; but it will be a hard-hitting one. I am telling you all this because I felt you may have the will and the means to spread the word. Official start-time for the demo is 11-30, the handing-in 'ceremony' would be about 12-30, at the Ministry of Justice building in Petty France, near St. James' Park Station.
Please contact me at my address below.
With many thanks for your time,
Yours sincerely,
Roger Crawford
Roger Crawford, The Pigling, Woodview Nurseries, Shefford Rd, Meppershall. Beds SG17 5LL. Mob 07849-522180, Tel 01462-814575,
Email Roger jester-rog@talktalk.net
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Three Destroyers of Family Life
Governments we are told recognise the importance of grandparents and extended family in a child’s life. We say that is a joke. They are wasting your money and the time of the courts that grant contact orders for children with their family.
Social Services claim what the Charter for Grandchildren is asking for is already available. If It is, then it is not focused enough for it to be observed by professionals that work in the welfare of children when we have all these complaints.
Social services carry out the dirty work of the government by ostracising any member who comments on their treatment of children. Social workers tell concerned family members we don’t need to tell you anything because you are irrelevant persons. The family are shut out altogether and this allows social services to carry on in secret to groom the sweetest youngest children for forced adoption. Adoption is a very lucrative business and worth investigating who is making out of it. The not so sweet kids or young children are doomed to a life in the care system which thoroughly demoralising them robbing them of family connections and respect for society and they rebel to the extreme and form gangs to cope with rejection.
Woman’s Aid is reported to be tutoring mothers how to avoid contact with fathers and grandparents. Their agenda is self centred and not good for children. We have approached them to issue a Charter for Mothers for good practise but they have not responded. They are funded by vast sums of money from the government.
Lack of Facilities,
Grandparents, fathers and extended family are disgusted with the lack of these facilities. It takes so long that the authority of court orders are laughed at and easily flouted. The government say they promote mediation but we want to open a mediation and contact centre but can’t get funding for it.
Scottish Mediation service is telling our grandparents that they will need to wait for months for an appointment. The main Contact Centre in Glasgow is just as bad off with a lengthy wait for their services.
Where is the money going?
A huge fortune of private and public legal aid money is spent on family breakdowns, mainly for contact with children and only lawyers are gaining from it. So think about this. The Government is full of lawyers. The governments take their advice from the Law Societies that was created by lawyers for lawyers and work in the best interest of lawyers. So what else can you expect but laws that benefit lawyers? You vote for them!!!! They fill their pockets at your expense. Vote for people like yourself who can work for your needs.
Family members in their desperation for contact are very vulnerable and think just because a lawyer takes on their case they are on the road to getting that contact. Get second opinions from family groups before you engage a lawyer.
Where is the best interest of the children here that is so often quoted?
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK,
22 Alness crescent,
Glasgow
G52 1PJ,
0141 882 5658,
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Social Services claim what the Charter for Grandchildren is asking for is already available. If It is, then it is not focused enough for it to be observed by professionals that work in the welfare of children when we have all these complaints.
Social services carry out the dirty work of the government by ostracising any member who comments on their treatment of children. Social workers tell concerned family members we don’t need to tell you anything because you are irrelevant persons. The family are shut out altogether and this allows social services to carry on in secret to groom the sweetest youngest children for forced adoption. Adoption is a very lucrative business and worth investigating who is making out of it. The not so sweet kids or young children are doomed to a life in the care system which thoroughly demoralising them robbing them of family connections and respect for society and they rebel to the extreme and form gangs to cope with rejection.
Woman’s Aid is reported to be tutoring mothers how to avoid contact with fathers and grandparents. Their agenda is self centred and not good for children. We have approached them to issue a Charter for Mothers for good practise but they have not responded. They are funded by vast sums of money from the government.
Lack of Facilities,
Grandparents, fathers and extended family are disgusted with the lack of these facilities. It takes so long that the authority of court orders are laughed at and easily flouted. The government say they promote mediation but we want to open a mediation and contact centre but can’t get funding for it.
Scottish Mediation service is telling our grandparents that they will need to wait for months for an appointment. The main Contact Centre in Glasgow is just as bad off with a lengthy wait for their services.
Where is the money going?
A huge fortune of private and public legal aid money is spent on family breakdowns, mainly for contact with children and only lawyers are gaining from it. So think about this. The Government is full of lawyers. The governments take their advice from the Law Societies that was created by lawyers for lawyers and work in the best interest of lawyers. So what else can you expect but laws that benefit lawyers? You vote for them!!!! They fill their pockets at your expense. Vote for people like yourself who can work for your needs.
Family members in their desperation for contact are very vulnerable and think just because a lawyer takes on their case they are on the road to getting that contact. Get second opinions from family groups before you engage a lawyer.
Where is the best interest of the children here that is so often quoted?
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK,
22 Alness crescent,
Glasgow
G52 1PJ,
0141 882 5658,
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
http://www.examiner.com/cps-and-family-court-in-albany/bill-bowen-s-documentary-innocence-destroyed-about-kids-murdered-while-custody-of-cps-is-powerful
Bill Bowen's documentary Innocence Destroyed about kids murdered while in custody of CPS is powerful
• September 28th, 2009 10:39 am ET
Hundreds of children die every year in the custody of Child Protective Services. That's not something the general public is aware of. But that lack of awareness will hopefully end this winter when the full length documentary, Innocence Destroyed, is released.
Innocence Destroyed is not being produced by a half-witted conspiracy theorist but by former fire-fighter and federal law enforcement officer, Bill Bowen. Bowen, as you can see in the shorter version of the film he has posted on You Tube and which I have embedded below, is intelligent and articulate and just the sort of man needed to produce such a documentary. When you listen to Bowen, you instinctively know that here is a man you can trust--here is a man who tells the truth.
If the short version is any indication of what the full length version will be like, then this film should be entered into competition at Sundance, Slamdance and other film festivals. It is incredibly professional, and the original musical score, particularly Adriana's Theme by Steve Berkowitz is gorgeous.
But behind the beautiful music is the ugly reality, so ugly the movie is not recommended for anyone under sixteen, of children being tortured and murdered while in the care of the very people who are supposed to protect children, Child Protective Services. Particularly difficult to watch are some of the autopsy photos.
The film opens with a heartrending interview with Tausha Cram, mother of Adriana Cram, the subject of the movie's theme song. Tausha did not even find out her daughter had been murdered until a month after her death and then found out that she was murdered and buried in Mexico--that's correct, not New Mexico, but Mexico.
Earlier Tausha had turned to Child Protective Services for help in obtaining insurance and medicine for her daughter's medical condition. Instead of helping her, CPS took her daughter into custody and charged Tausha with medical neglect. Rather than placing the child with her aunt as promised, CPS placed Adriana with an aunt and uncle of Tausha's abusive partner, whom she had left because of his abuse. The aunt and uncle lived in Mexico. Adriana went to live with them and was beaten and tortured on a daily basis until she died.
Adriana's story is just one of the thousands that Bill Bowen has investigated in the past three years. The film tells only a few of these stories. The film reveals that the torture and death of children in the custody of Child Protective Services is too widespread to be ignored.
Bowen also investigates the secrecy of Child Protective Services, the supposed "best interest of the child" standard of CPS and family court, the nepotism in many Child Protective Services agencies, child abuse by CPS investigators, children who have disappeared or who have run away from CPS care, bias in family court and court transcripts that don't accurately reflect audio recordings
Bowen interviews not only parents who have had their children murdered while in the custody of CPS, he interviews forensic pathologists, former CPS workers, court reporters and more.
Bowen's short film, Innocence Destroyed, filmed by Chris Walters and Dan Jagels, is a powerful indictment of Child Protective Services. It is powerful not only because of Bowen's exhaustive search for the truth, but also because of his skill as a writer and filmmaker. Bowen's skill as a filmmaker is seen throughout the movie, but it is particularly shown at the beginning and near the end. The opening interview with Tausha Cram draws you into the film. The closing scene (see the photo above) of Tausha lying on Adriana's grave in Mexico, asking for her daughter's forgiveness, is one of the most unforgettable images I have ever seen in any movie.
If this film doesn't move you, then you might question whether or not you really are a member of the human race
Bill Bowen's documentary Innocence Destroyed about kids murdered while in custody of CPS is powerful
• September 28th, 2009 10:39 am ET
Hundreds of children die every year in the custody of Child Protective Services. That's not something the general public is aware of. But that lack of awareness will hopefully end this winter when the full length documentary, Innocence Destroyed, is released.
Innocence Destroyed is not being produced by a half-witted conspiracy theorist but by former fire-fighter and federal law enforcement officer, Bill Bowen. Bowen, as you can see in the shorter version of the film he has posted on You Tube and which I have embedded below, is intelligent and articulate and just the sort of man needed to produce such a documentary. When you listen to Bowen, you instinctively know that here is a man you can trust--here is a man who tells the truth.
If the short version is any indication of what the full length version will be like, then this film should be entered into competition at Sundance, Slamdance and other film festivals. It is incredibly professional, and the original musical score, particularly Adriana's Theme by Steve Berkowitz is gorgeous.
But behind the beautiful music is the ugly reality, so ugly the movie is not recommended for anyone under sixteen, of children being tortured and murdered while in the care of the very people who are supposed to protect children, Child Protective Services. Particularly difficult to watch are some of the autopsy photos.
The film opens with a heartrending interview with Tausha Cram, mother of Adriana Cram, the subject of the movie's theme song. Tausha did not even find out her daughter had been murdered until a month after her death and then found out that she was murdered and buried in Mexico--that's correct, not New Mexico, but Mexico.
Earlier Tausha had turned to Child Protective Services for help in obtaining insurance and medicine for her daughter's medical condition. Instead of helping her, CPS took her daughter into custody and charged Tausha with medical neglect. Rather than placing the child with her aunt as promised, CPS placed Adriana with an aunt and uncle of Tausha's abusive partner, whom she had left because of his abuse. The aunt and uncle lived in Mexico. Adriana went to live with them and was beaten and tortured on a daily basis until she died.
Adriana's story is just one of the thousands that Bill Bowen has investigated in the past three years. The film tells only a few of these stories. The film reveals that the torture and death of children in the custody of Child Protective Services is too widespread to be ignored.
Bowen also investigates the secrecy of Child Protective Services, the supposed "best interest of the child" standard of CPS and family court, the nepotism in many Child Protective Services agencies, child abuse by CPS investigators, children who have disappeared or who have run away from CPS care, bias in family court and court transcripts that don't accurately reflect audio recordings
Bowen interviews not only parents who have had their children murdered while in the custody of CPS, he interviews forensic pathologists, former CPS workers, court reporters and more.
Bowen's short film, Innocence Destroyed, filmed by Chris Walters and Dan Jagels, is a powerful indictment of Child Protective Services. It is powerful not only because of Bowen's exhaustive search for the truth, but also because of his skill as a writer and filmmaker. Bowen's skill as a filmmaker is seen throughout the movie, but it is particularly shown at the beginning and near the end. The opening interview with Tausha Cram draws you into the film. The closing scene (see the photo above) of Tausha lying on Adriana's grave in Mexico, asking for her daughter's forgiveness, is one of the most unforgettable images I have ever seen in any movie.
If this film doesn't move you, then you might question whether or not you really are a member of the human race
Monday, September 6, 2010
Wisdom from Pope Benedict XVI
The head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI has blessed The Catholic Grandparents Association from Ireland and composed a special ‘Prayer for Grandparents’
Roman Catholics are very family orientated and are an inspiration to us all. There was never better encouragement for everyone to strive in ‘Bringing Families Together’ this has always been our motto and I quote the wisdom of the Pope in saying “grandparents may never be ignored or excluded but always encounter respect and love” unquote. Unfortunately this is not the case with the Governments of the UK who refuse to acknowledge that grandparents are part of the family and social services reinforce this every day by telling caring grandparents “you are irrelevant! we don’t need to speak to you!
Everyone should heed the Popes wisdom for the world and urge the governments and local authorities to implement the Charter for Grandchildren. This Charter focuses on the best interests of the children and grandparents know it will give children the best care and protection they can offer when they are in a crisis situation other than be taken into care. This does not mean grandparents will have any more rights than they have at present.
The responsibility to rear their children is with the parents. The charter for Grandchildren only assures that our children are getting the best available from all members of their family.
We need to save our children from being taken by social services and adopted to strangers when grandparents are available to keep them within a stable home environment within the faith their family believes in. The Charter for Grandchildren when implemented will ensure professionals dealing in the welfare of children really do work in the ‘child’s best interest’.
http://chatterboxblogforyou.blogspot.com/2010/08/popes-prayer-for-grandparents.html
http://chatterboxblogforyou.blogspot.com/2010/09/charter-for-grandchildren.html
If you would like to help in making the Popes wishes for grandparents more widely known contact us for leaflets.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Roman Catholics are very family orientated and are an inspiration to us all. There was never better encouragement for everyone to strive in ‘Bringing Families Together’ this has always been our motto and I quote the wisdom of the Pope in saying “grandparents may never be ignored or excluded but always encounter respect and love” unquote. Unfortunately this is not the case with the Governments of the UK who refuse to acknowledge that grandparents are part of the family and social services reinforce this every day by telling caring grandparents “you are irrelevant! we don’t need to speak to you!
Everyone should heed the Popes wisdom for the world and urge the governments and local authorities to implement the Charter for Grandchildren. This Charter focuses on the best interests of the children and grandparents know it will give children the best care and protection they can offer when they are in a crisis situation other than be taken into care. This does not mean grandparents will have any more rights than they have at present.
The responsibility to rear their children is with the parents. The charter for Grandchildren only assures that our children are getting the best available from all members of their family.
We need to save our children from being taken by social services and adopted to strangers when grandparents are available to keep them within a stable home environment within the faith their family believes in. The Charter for Grandchildren when implemented will ensure professionals dealing in the welfare of children really do work in the ‘child’s best interest’.
http://chatterboxblogforyou.blogspot.com/2010/08/popes-prayer-for-grandparents.html
http://chatterboxblogforyou.blogspot.com/2010/09/charter-for-grandchildren.html
If you would like to help in making the Popes wishes for grandparents more widely known contact us for leaflets.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
The Charter for Grandchildren
It is important that parents, grandparents and other family members, speak to, and treat each other, with respect. You may not get on, but you can still be civil, for the sake of the children. Try to avoid arguing with or criticising family members in front of the children. It can be very upsetting for them.
On occasions professional organisations such as social work departments or the courts can become involved and may have to make decisions that will have a lasting impact throughout a child’s entire life. In these circumstances it is vital that the loving and supportive role that the wider family, in particular grandparents can play is respected and protected for the child…
FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN.
Grandchildren can expect:
• To be involved with and helped to understand decisions made about their lives.
• To be treated fairly
• To know and maintain contact with their family (except in very exceptional circumstances) and other people who are important to them.
• To know that their grandparents still love them, even if they are not able to see them at the present time.
• To know their family history.
• The adults in their lives to put their needs first and to protect them from disputes between adults - not to use them as weapons in quarrels between adults.
• Social workers , when making assessments about their lives, to take into account the loving and supporting role grandparents can play in their lives.
• The Courts, when making decisions about their lives, to take into account the loving and supporting role grandparents can play in their lives.
• Lawyers and other advisers to encourage relationship counseling or mediation when adults seek advice on matters affecting them and their children.
Along with others, Grandparents Apart put a lot of hard work into “The Charter for Grandchildren” demanding to be heard about the gaps in the family law concerning our grandchildren. Why? Because we really do have the best interests of our grandchildren at heart, if it was not for love of them why would we bother?
We are happy to promote the Charter for Grandchildren and the Parenting Agreement.
Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland. 22 Alness Crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJ
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk A Scottish Registered Volunteer Charity No. SC 031558
On occasions professional organisations such as social work departments or the courts can become involved and may have to make decisions that will have a lasting impact throughout a child’s entire life. In these circumstances it is vital that the loving and supportive role that the wider family, in particular grandparents can play is respected and protected for the child…
FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN.
Grandchildren can expect:
• To be involved with and helped to understand decisions made about their lives.
• To be treated fairly
• To know and maintain contact with their family (except in very exceptional circumstances) and other people who are important to them.
• To know that their grandparents still love them, even if they are not able to see them at the present time.
• To know their family history.
• The adults in their lives to put their needs first and to protect them from disputes between adults - not to use them as weapons in quarrels between adults.
• Social workers , when making assessments about their lives, to take into account the loving and supporting role grandparents can play in their lives.
• The Courts, when making decisions about their lives, to take into account the loving and supporting role grandparents can play in their lives.
• Lawyers and other advisers to encourage relationship counseling or mediation when adults seek advice on matters affecting them and their children.
Along with others, Grandparents Apart put a lot of hard work into “The Charter for Grandchildren” demanding to be heard about the gaps in the family law concerning our grandchildren. Why? Because we really do have the best interests of our grandchildren at heart, if it was not for love of them why would we bother?
We are happy to promote the Charter for Grandchildren and the Parenting Agreement.
Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland. 22 Alness Crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJ
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk A Scottish Registered Volunteer Charity No. SC 031558
Cardinal: BBC biased against Christianity
Cardinal O'Brien said the BBC displayed "massive bias" The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has accused the BBC of "institutional bias" against Christianity.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien said that mainstream Christian views had been marginalised by the corporation.
He also said a forthcoming BBC documentary about the Pope's visit, would be a "hatchet job".
A spokeswoman for the BBC said the corporation refuted the allegations "absolutely".
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Cardinal O'Brien said: "(Our) detailed research into BBC news coverage of Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular, together with a systematic analysis of output by the Catholic Church, has revealed a consistent anti-Christian institutional bias.
"This week the BBC's director-general admitted that the corporation had displayed massive bias in its political coverage throughout the 1980s, acknowledging the existence of an institutional political bias."
Continue reading the main story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11191992
Related stories
Cardinal attacks US over Megrahi
Cardinal vows to protect children
Pope 'failed to act' on sex abuse
'Ethical affairs'
The cardinal said that senior news managers had admitted to the Catholic Church that a "radically secular mindset and socially liberal mindset" pervaded newsrooms.
He added: "This is utterly at odds with wider public attitudes and sadly taints BBC news and current affairs coverage of religious issues, particularly matters of Christian belief."
The cardinal also voiced concern that a forthcoming BBC documentary titled Benedict - Trials of a Pope will be a "hatchet job" on the Vatican.
It covers Catholic abuse scandals and will be shown on 15 September, the eve of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Scotland.
In response, a spokeswoman for the BBC said: "The BBC's news and current affairs coverage of any subject is approached in an objective and impartial way reflecting the different sides of the debate.
"BBC news and current affairs has a dedicated religion correspondent, and works closely with BBC Religion, ensuring topical religious and ethical affairs stories are featured across all BBC networks."
Glasgow City Council on the Charter for Grandchildren.
I received a letter today 4/9/2010 from Glasgow City Council Stating that The meeting of The Children and Families Development Committee regarding the Charter for Grandchildren was held on the 26 August 2010’
David Crawford the head of social services informed me by letter I would receive his proposals for the committee which I never did. It would appear to me that social services are opposed to change. It proves again that their interest only lies in their own backyard. Quote Thank you for your letter dated 1 June 2010. It is my intention to take a report on this issue to the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee in August. I will confirm the arrangements for this nearer the time and give you a copy of the report which we will present to-elected members. unquote.
Finally their proposals are that the procedures for involving the extended family are already in place Quote, 3.1. The attached charter outlines the rights of children and the responsibilities of statutory agencies which are already in legislation. primarily the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Adoption Act (Scotland) 2009, which ensure that in making decisions on the lives of children a full assessment of need should be undertaken, involving all relevant people. The definition of relevant people includes grandparents.
3.2. It is proposed therefore that the Council is able to acknowledge that the rights of children and the role that grandparents play is already understood and part of . practice in working with children and their families. unquote.
If as they claim that legislation is already available then why obstruct a charter that focuses on and clarifies the road professionals should be going down.
The legislation they are talking about is not being observed we need a Charter for Grandchildren to focus entirely on the rights of grandchildren.
This reluctance for social services to accept the Charter for Grandchildren is driven by the loss of face in being proven they cannot cope.
Day in and day out Families are being torn apart by social services telling extended families “You are irrelevant. We don’t need to talk to you” It would be in the councils best interest if families were encouraged to unite and solve their own problems rather than have social services driving them apart and costing tax payers a fortune.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
David Crawford the head of social services informed me by letter I would receive his proposals for the committee which I never did. It would appear to me that social services are opposed to change. It proves again that their interest only lies in their own backyard. Quote Thank you for your letter dated 1 June 2010. It is my intention to take a report on this issue to the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee in August. I will confirm the arrangements for this nearer the time and give you a copy of the report which we will present to-elected members. unquote.
Finally their proposals are that the procedures for involving the extended family are already in place Quote, 3.1. The attached charter outlines the rights of children and the responsibilities of statutory agencies which are already in legislation. primarily the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Adoption Act (Scotland) 2009, which ensure that in making decisions on the lives of children a full assessment of need should be undertaken, involving all relevant people. The definition of relevant people includes grandparents.
3.2. It is proposed therefore that the Council is able to acknowledge that the rights of children and the role that grandparents play is already understood and part of . practice in working with children and their families. unquote.
If as they claim that legislation is already available then why obstruct a charter that focuses on and clarifies the road professionals should be going down.
The legislation they are talking about is not being observed we need a Charter for Grandchildren to focus entirely on the rights of grandchildren.
This reluctance for social services to accept the Charter for Grandchildren is driven by the loss of face in being proven they cannot cope.
Day in and day out Families are being torn apart by social services telling extended families “You are irrelevant. We don’t need to talk to you” It would be in the councils best interest if families were encouraged to unite and solve their own problems rather than have social services driving them apart and costing tax payers a fortune.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Advancing Gender Equity
Media Release –
2nd September 2010
On parliament’s lawn in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday 1 September 2010, a father’s representation of father’s rights groups opened the country’s first Ministry of Men’s Affairs. The fathers in coalition (father’s coalition), state they are responding to the neglect of men and fatherhood in political and civic affairs.
Wellingtonian, Benjamin Easton, says he will be taking time with the Ministry to advance the knowledge of gender equity. “Gender equality is a violent intellectual fiction causing real social damage”, he says. “Gender equity, however, is a tolerant exercise of social awareness and is politically responsive to the problems, physical differences and differing needs of the sexes”.
Easton agrees with the coalition that parliament has not protected fatherhood and adjoins that is time for fathers to take that responsibility upon themselves. “If the New Zealand government hasn’t the presence to protect men’s equitable rights with a national responsibility, then fathers will”, he says.
2nd September 2010
On parliament’s lawn in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday 1 September 2010, a father’s representation of father’s rights groups opened the country’s first Ministry of Men’s Affairs. The fathers in coalition (father’s coalition), state they are responding to the neglect of men and fatherhood in political and civic affairs.
Wellingtonian, Benjamin Easton, says he will be taking time with the Ministry to advance the knowledge of gender equity. “Gender equality is a violent intellectual fiction causing real social damage”, he says. “Gender equity, however, is a tolerant exercise of social awareness and is politically responsive to the problems, physical differences and differing needs of the sexes”.
Easton agrees with the coalition that parliament has not protected fatherhood and adjoins that is time for fathers to take that responsibility upon themselves. “If the New Zealand government hasn’t the presence to protect men’s equitable rights with a national responsibility, then fathers will”, he says.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
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