Letter for Councillors, MSPs MPs, Clients.
The previous Scottish Government created the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ and the present government has now passed the responsibility for implementing it to local authorities.
Grandparents Apart UK, Anne McLaughlin MSP, Willie Coffey MSP, Kenny Gibson MSP and Bailie Iris Gibson Glasgow City councillor are heading this campaign to have the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ made mandatory for professionals involved in the welfare of children. Our sincere request is for them to have your support for the best interests of our children.
The Charter for Grandchildren, which is for guidance only, was created by the Scottish Government along with Grandparents Apart UK and others, to accompany the Scottish Family Law Act (Scotland) 2006. This has not been as successful as everyone hoped and is largely being ignored by Social Services, courts, lawyers and professionals working in the welfare of children. This has arisen because of the attitude of Social Services towards grandparents when they dare to comment on how their grandchildren are treated. Social Service’s reaction is to cut them off as uncooperative and tell them they are irrelevant persons and don’t need to be kept informed.
Our request now is to have the Charter for Grandchildren made mandatory for professionals in order that children cannot be denied the love and protection that their grandparents can offer. Cross party MSPs, wide ranging family groups and representatives of various authorities support the Charter for Grandchildren, but without proper backing, guidance for best practice it is being ignored.
In the Charter for Grandchildren grandparents do not have any legal rights. It states that the role grandparents can play in children’s lives must be taken seriously, e.g. in early detection of abuse and offering stability and emotional security in crisis situations. It is the thousands of little things children get from their grandparents that comfort them the most, instead of being shunted to strangers and from pillar to post when family members are available.
The reason for our campaign is because grandparents are regarded in law as irrelevant persons in their grandchildren’s lives, and it can happen to you. You can be cut out of your grandchildren’s lives at a whim because of family problems, fall outs or bereavement. Being cut out of your grandchildren’s lives happens all too easily and our authorities too often hinder, rather than help support families. Evidence shows our children benefit from the support of their family members. They must be allowed that support.
In our personal case we regained contact and consider ourselves very fortunate but cannot forget the devastation we and our grandchildren went through. This is why we set up this group to offer support and guidance to others which was not available when we needed it.
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 organizations 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 utilised to the full
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 counselling or mediation when
adults seek advice on matters affecting them and their children.
Along with others, Grandparents Apart UK put a lot of hard work into The Charter for Grandchildren by demanding to be heard about the gaps in family law concerning their grandchildren. Why? Because we really do have the best interests of our grandchildren at heart, if it was not for our love for them why would we bother?
Grandparents Apart UK.
22 Alness Crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJ
A Scottish Registered Volunteer Charity No. SC 031558
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
The Ten Commandments of Family Law.
(What we feel needs to change for our children’s best interest?)
1…Our motto is “Bringing Families Together” so we think the best interests of a
child starts with Equal parenting when there is no factually proven reason not
to.
2....The ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ to be Mandatory for Professionals working in
Children’s welfare and answerable in law.
3…Children are human beings. Stop treating them as Commodities like a
business deal. Cost only criteria and can ruin children’s lives
4.....If adopted, where appropriate, child contact maintained with birth family in
line with article 8 of the UN Convention on the rights of the child. (Should only
be stopped in the worst case scenario)
5 ...Kinship care before strangers to be the first choice.
6. ..All below accountable to law. (a)--..False accusations. (b)-..Erroneous reporting by
social workers. (c)…Flouting of court orders (d) Social Services Orchestrating “cover up’s”,
when children are failed
7…Proper recording of all social work meetings and discussions E.g. Dual tape
recording similar to police proceedings (to prevent and combat section 6 b+d)
8….More “transparency” and especially “accountability” for Social work and their
managers
9….Specialised training for social workers in the best interests of children. (Only
the most highly experienced social workers to deal in child protection)
10…. Accusations removed from record, when not proven.
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
Grandparents Apart UK.
Petition.
Grandparents Apart UK request the petitions committee to urge the government to make ‘The Charter for Grandchildren’ mandatory for professionals who work in the welfare of children.
More info:- http://grandparentsapartuk.blogspot.com/ to see hard petition
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Equal shared parenting bill June 16 2009
Mr. Vellacott introduced a Private Member’s Bill this morning that would require a presumption of equal parenting. This is a BILL, not a MOTION. It’s # is C-422. Don’t refer to it as M-483 if contacting others such as politicians or media about this bill because M-483 as an equal parenting measure was terminated with the last election call, as most of you already know, so nobody will know what you are talking about if you refer to it incorrectly. Mr. Vellacott’s introductory statement in introducing this bill this morning was as follows: Intro Statement –
Equal Shared Parenting PMB – June 16, 2009 Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be introducing a
Private Member’s Bill today which would direct courts in regard to divorce, to make equal shared parenting the presumptive arrangement in the best interests of the child, except in proven cases of abuse or neglect.
Over 10 years ago, a Joint House-Senate committee presented to Parliament a report entitled “For the Sake of the Children.” That report urged Parliament to amend the Divorce Act to make equal shared parenting the normative determination by courts dealing with situations of divorce involving children. This non-partisan recommendation from that Joint House-Senate was based on compelling research made available to the committee members. Over the past ten years, the best research has continued to demonstrate the far superior outcomes for children, in general, when both parents – mom AND dad – are actively involved in their children's lives, even if the parents divorce or separate.
Polling from the past two years demonstrates overwhelming support from Canadians for equal shared parenting. There is, in fact, slightly more support among women than men for equal parenting. This strong support from almost 80% of Canadians exists across the country, with the strongest regional support coming from Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Canadians claiming to be Liberal and Bloc supporters, expressed the strongest endorsement for equal shared parenting, at 80.6% among Liberals and 82.9% among Bloc Quebecois supporters.
A variety of countries, such as Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Australia, and various U.S. states, have implemented equal parenting, joint custody or shared parenting presumptive legislation, which has resulted in lowered court costs, less conflict and improved social outcomes for the children of divorce.
This bill is one of the most a-political, non-partisan pieces of legislation introduced in this current Parliament. I look forward to strong support for this important piece of legislation from all Members of Parliament who are committed to the best interests of our Canadian children.
Equal Shared Parenting PMB – June 16, 2009 Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be introducing a
Private Member’s Bill today which would direct courts in regard to divorce, to make equal shared parenting the presumptive arrangement in the best interests of the child, except in proven cases of abuse or neglect.
Over 10 years ago, a Joint House-Senate committee presented to Parliament a report entitled “For the Sake of the Children.” That report urged Parliament to amend the Divorce Act to make equal shared parenting the normative determination by courts dealing with situations of divorce involving children. This non-partisan recommendation from that Joint House-Senate was based on compelling research made available to the committee members. Over the past ten years, the best research has continued to demonstrate the far superior outcomes for children, in general, when both parents – mom AND dad – are actively involved in their children's lives, even if the parents divorce or separate.
Polling from the past two years demonstrates overwhelming support from Canadians for equal shared parenting. There is, in fact, slightly more support among women than men for equal parenting. This strong support from almost 80% of Canadians exists across the country, with the strongest regional support coming from Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Canadians claiming to be Liberal and Bloc supporters, expressed the strongest endorsement for equal shared parenting, at 80.6% among Liberals and 82.9% among Bloc Quebecois supporters.
A variety of countries, such as Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Australia, and various U.S. states, have implemented equal parenting, joint custody or shared parenting presumptive legislation, which has resulted in lowered court costs, less conflict and improved social outcomes for the children of divorce.
This bill is one of the most a-political, non-partisan pieces of legislation introduced in this current Parliament. I look forward to strong support for this important piece of legislation from all Members of Parliament who are committed to the best interests of our Canadian children.
Glassop's fued with Geldof.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1193156/Michael-Hutchences-mum-reignites-feud-Bob-Geldof-lack-contact-Tiger-Lily.html
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 3:25 PM on 15th June 2009
The mother of the late rock star Michael Hutchence today reignited her feud with Bob Geldof over her granddaughter.
Pat Glassop claims Geldof hasn’t let her see 12-year-old Tiger Lily for three years and said she 'barely knows' her.
Tiger Lily is the former INXS frontman’s child with Geldof’s ex-wife Paula Yates. Hutchence died in 1997, aged 37.
Feud: Mother of the late rock star Michael Hutchence claims Bob Geldof has not let her see granddaughter Tiger Lily for three years
He was found hanged in a hotel room in Sydney. Three years later, Yates, 41, died from an accidental overdose of heroin in London.
Geldof became Tiger Lily’s legal guardian and she lives with him and her half-sisters Fifi Trixibelle, 26, Peaches, 23, and Pixie, 18, in London.
Ms Glassop fears she may never see her again. 'I don’t know what Tiger Lily’s favourite colour is, what movies she likes or what fashion she’s into,' she said. 'I don’t know anything, yet she is my son’s daughter.'
No contact: Bob and Tiger Lily at the premiere for the DVD release of the Live 8 concert in July 2005
Ms Glassop says she last saw Tiger Lily in 2006 when she was allowed to visit for five days, but on condition she brought a nanny.
Then, two years ago, she called Geldof 'Satan' after he reportedly severed all ties.
And she hit out at the former Boomtown Rat for refusing to let Tiger Lily see her grandfather Ross last month before he died
Family bond: Michael Hutchence and Paula Yates with newborn Tiger Lily in 1996
Ms Glassop, who lives on Australia’s Gold Coast, said: 'I explained that Ross was seriously ill but I never heard back.
'Now it’s too late. I don’t understand how any man could do that.
'It’s not only hurting us, it’s hurting Tiger Lily.'
Bob Geldof was not available for comment today.
Bob Geldof agreed to be our honorary patron a good few years ago. But said he would be to busy to attend any wee do’s or fete’s. I said I would not expect him to as he was such a busy man. Asking Bob Geldof to be our Honorary Patron got us attention from the media but he has never done anything else for us.
We published a book “Grandparents Speak out for Vulnerable Children” and asked Bob to write a couple of words on the intro but he did not answer.
Mrs Glassop joined our group in order to blacken. Bob but at the time the version that was feasible was Paula Yates asked him to keep the children together which he did. He has given Mrs Glassop contact but only in London as far as i know because he was afraid she would keep her in Australia if she was to go there. And that would be against Paula's wishes. Mrs Glassop has given me a hard time about this and i have received letters from all over the world on the hate campaign against him which i sent on to him.
The last communication i had from Bobs PR at Ten-alps-events was to remove her from my email list which i have done.
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 3:25 PM on 15th June 2009
The mother of the late rock star Michael Hutchence today reignited her feud with Bob Geldof over her granddaughter.
Pat Glassop claims Geldof hasn’t let her see 12-year-old Tiger Lily for three years and said she 'barely knows' her.
Tiger Lily is the former INXS frontman’s child with Geldof’s ex-wife Paula Yates. Hutchence died in 1997, aged 37.
Feud: Mother of the late rock star Michael Hutchence claims Bob Geldof has not let her see granddaughter Tiger Lily for three years
He was found hanged in a hotel room in Sydney. Three years later, Yates, 41, died from an accidental overdose of heroin in London.
Geldof became Tiger Lily’s legal guardian and she lives with him and her half-sisters Fifi Trixibelle, 26, Peaches, 23, and Pixie, 18, in London.
Ms Glassop fears she may never see her again. 'I don’t know what Tiger Lily’s favourite colour is, what movies she likes or what fashion she’s into,' she said. 'I don’t know anything, yet she is my son’s daughter.'
No contact: Bob and Tiger Lily at the premiere for the DVD release of the Live 8 concert in July 2005
Ms Glassop says she last saw Tiger Lily in 2006 when she was allowed to visit for five days, but on condition she brought a nanny.
Then, two years ago, she called Geldof 'Satan' after he reportedly severed all ties.
And she hit out at the former Boomtown Rat for refusing to let Tiger Lily see her grandfather Ross last month before he died
Family bond: Michael Hutchence and Paula Yates with newborn Tiger Lily in 1996
Ms Glassop, who lives on Australia’s Gold Coast, said: 'I explained that Ross was seriously ill but I never heard back.
'Now it’s too late. I don’t understand how any man could do that.
'It’s not only hurting us, it’s hurting Tiger Lily.'
Bob Geldof was not available for comment today.
Bob Geldof agreed to be our honorary patron a good few years ago. But said he would be to busy to attend any wee do’s or fete’s. I said I would not expect him to as he was such a busy man. Asking Bob Geldof to be our Honorary Patron got us attention from the media but he has never done anything else for us.
We published a book “Grandparents Speak out for Vulnerable Children” and asked Bob to write a couple of words on the intro but he did not answer.
Mrs Glassop joined our group in order to blacken. Bob but at the time the version that was feasible was Paula Yates asked him to keep the children together which he did. He has given Mrs Glassop contact but only in London as far as i know because he was afraid she would keep her in Australia if she was to go there. And that would be against Paula's wishes. Mrs Glassop has given me a hard time about this and i have received letters from all over the world on the hate campaign against him which i sent on to him.
The last communication i had from Bobs PR at Ten-alps-events was to remove her from my email list which i have done.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Another Social Service blunder
Press release, immediate.
A granny that we have been supporting is demented by the treatment her daughter and granddaughter have been receiving at the hands of social services.
The granddaughter has been put into the care of someone who did not get on with her at all. Because of her unhappiness she lost weight, threatened to run away and was self harming. After numerous letters stating social services were interfering unnecessarily in the lives of this family. We finally got an answer from the chief executive of the council saying everything we asked for was now in place. The wee girl was back with her mother and the granny was in support of them a happy family once again.
The family was delighted, the wee girl was over the moon to be back home.
But !!! The nightmare goes on.
You can imagine the horror when two days after the good news letter social workers accompanied by two police officers went to the two youngest children’s school and removed them to a social services place of what you could only call interrogation. The older girl was also taken later on and put through the mill..
The accusation was the ex husband who has never been on the scene since they split up was said to have battered the children in retaliation for being dropped from the marriage.
This turned out to be an untrue malicious complainer and the social services could not apologise enough for the hassle caused.
TOO late!!! For apologies, the blundering social services ride again. Typically snatching children without real proof and putting them through hell. The children were terrified being taken away by all these people without their mother or granny.
This is the reason why we need the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ made mandatory for professionals. The granny was perfectly able to look after her granddaughter, she is in full health, fit and has perfect accommodation but she was being ignored because she is an irrelevant person in her grandchildren’s lives and was repeatedly told so. When the granny spoke out about the treatment she was immediately labelled as uncooperative and ignored but this feisty granny was determined her family was going to get justice. With our support we hope this has come to pass.
Ends
For more info contact:-
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
A granny that we have been supporting is demented by the treatment her daughter and granddaughter have been receiving at the hands of social services.
The granddaughter has been put into the care of someone who did not get on with her at all. Because of her unhappiness she lost weight, threatened to run away and was self harming. After numerous letters stating social services were interfering unnecessarily in the lives of this family. We finally got an answer from the chief executive of the council saying everything we asked for was now in place. The wee girl was back with her mother and the granny was in support of them a happy family once again.
The family was delighted, the wee girl was over the moon to be back home.
But !!! The nightmare goes on.
You can imagine the horror when two days after the good news letter social workers accompanied by two police officers went to the two youngest children’s school and removed them to a social services place of what you could only call interrogation. The older girl was also taken later on and put through the mill..
The accusation was the ex husband who has never been on the scene since they split up was said to have battered the children in retaliation for being dropped from the marriage.
This turned out to be an untrue malicious complainer and the social services could not apologise enough for the hassle caused.
TOO late!!! For apologies, the blundering social services ride again. Typically snatching children without real proof and putting them through hell. The children were terrified being taken away by all these people without their mother or granny.
This is the reason why we need the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ made mandatory for professionals. The granny was perfectly able to look after her granddaughter, she is in full health, fit and has perfect accommodation but she was being ignored because she is an irrelevant person in her grandchildren’s lives and was repeatedly told so. When the granny spoke out about the treatment she was immediately labelled as uncooperative and ignored but this feisty granny was determined her family was going to get justice. With our support we hope this has come to pass.
Ends
For more info contact:-
Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
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