One in seven children ‘drinking regularly’

The government is srapping the barrel here. using every trick in the book. to get their own way.  Under age drinking has always been a problem and shame on the government to recognise it now just for their own convieniennce It did not suit them before. Minimum pricing would only make poor children poorer as a problem drinker will still have their drink while the household will get what's left, if any.

Making alcohol harder to get by stopping supermarkests having price wars with booze to attract people into their stores.

The age of buying alcohol is to low and it is hard for shops to recognise a persons age. Reducing the amount of outlets and raising the age to 21 will reduce the avaiability of alcohol to young people and not penalise the people who use it wisely.   

Nicola Sturgeon: I work on the basis of a legal challenge

By LYNDSAY BUCKLAND and TOM PETERKIN
Published on Wednesday 21 December 2011 00:00

THE scale of Scotland’s under-age alcohol problem was laid bare yesterday when a new survey showed that more than one third of 15 year-olds and one in seven 13 years olds admitted that they had taken a drink in the previous week.

The finding, which underlines the size of the challenge facing the SNP Government as it tries to crack-down on irresponsible drinking. Alex Salmond’s administration has made tackling Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with the bottle one of its flagship priorities and plans to introduce an alcohol minimum pricing policy.
The extent of under-age drinking was exposed as the Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon acknowledged that minimum pricing, designed to curb Scotland’s binge-drink culture, is “almost certain” to face a legal challenge in the courts.
Teenage drinking habits were uncovered in the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey of more than 37,000 pupils.
The study found an increase in those who said they had drunk in the previous week – up from 11 per cent to 14 per cent in 13-year-olds and 31 per cent to 34 per cent in 15-year-olds.
The figures raised serious concerns about the number of young people drinking on a regular basis.
Dr Evelyn Gillan, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “The number of young teenagers regularly drinking is concerning not only because of the potential damage to their health, but because of the risky situations they put themselves in when drunk.
“Young people are growing up in a world where cheap alcohol is so widely available,” she said.
“A young person receiving the average British pocket money of £5.89 can buy eight litres of cider containing almost 34 units of alcohol – more than enough alcohol to kill them. That’s why minimum pricing is so important.”
More encouragingly, the percentage of teenagers who reported ever having drunk alcohol fell last year to 44 per cent of 13-year-olds, compared with 52 per cent in 2008, and down from 82 per cent to 77 per cent in 15-year-olds.

The numbers of teenage drinkers is also lower than its peak in 2002.
Nevertheless, the bleak picture the survey painted of adolescents vomiting, being taken to hospital, staying off school, fighting and getting in trouble with the police was deeply concerning for health campaigners. The medical profession is a strong advocate of the SNP’s minimum pricing policy, which failed to make it on to the Statute Book in the last parliament as a result of opposition from Labour.
Drinks companies and retailers are also opposed to minimum pricing, arguing that it will not tackle the problem effectively and will break European competition law.
With the SNP now leading a majority government, this time round there will be no effective political opposition to the measure.
However, Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that it was more than likely that it would face opposition in the courts.
Giving evidence to a Holyrood committee looking at the legislation, Ms Sturgeon was asked why a figure for the minimum unit price would not be printed on the face of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.
Any price figure will instead be added later under subordinate legislation, which would not normally be debated by the whole chamber.
Ms Sturgeon said that the figure should not be put on the main bill, because it would mean parliament having to reopen the legislation every time the government wanted to change the minimum price.
In the last parliament, the SNP wanted to introduce a minimum price of 45p when the first attempt to introduce the legislation was blocked by opposition parties.
This time around, Ms Sturgeon argued that the price should not be set until the most up-to-date data is processed by experts.
Ms Sturgeon indicated that she was sure that the law would be challenged in the courts when she responded to the Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale, who said: “What would you say to pessimists that might think you are only waiting to put the price on at the subordinate legislation stage because you know a legal challenge is coming, and you want the law on the statute books before that happens?”
Ms Sturgeon replied: “I think it is almost certain that the bill will be legally challenged.
“Any piece of legislation that this parliament passes is potentially subject to legal challenge,” she told the committee. “I work on the basis there will be a legal challenge.
“My job is to make sure that we have legislation that can meet that legal challenge, and I am confident that it can.”
The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey found that 54 per cent of 13-year-olds who had ever had alcohol reported having been drunk at least once, compared with 76 per cent of 15-year-olds.
The research also found that 30 per cent of 13-year-olds who had ever had a drink reported at least one instance in the past 30 days when they had drunk five or more drinks on the same occasion.
A higher proportion – 51 per cent – of 15-year-olds, who had ever had a drink, had drunk five or more drinks on the same occasion.
The survey also asked whether drinking alcohol was linked to factors such as teenagers being sick, having to go to hospital, staying off school, having an argument or fight and being in trouble with the police.
Of those youngsters who had ever drunk alcohol, 38 per cent of 13-year-olds and 55 per cent of 15-year-olds reported at least one of these such incidents.
The two most commonly reported drink-related effects were vomiting and having an argument.
An estimated 21 per cent of 13-year-olds and 37 per cent of 15-year-olds who had ever drunk alcohol reported being sick as a result of binge drinking in the past year.
Having an argument was reported by 20 per cent of 13-year-olds and 34 per cent of 15-year-olds.
Vicky Crichton, the public affairs manager of Cancer Research UK’, said: “There is strong evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer, so it’s worrying to see the rising proportion of 13-year-olds and 15-year-olds who had an alcoholic drink in the past week.
“Research has shown a small increased risk for low alcohol intake, but the risk increases the more people drink.”
While under-age alcohol abuse remains a huge problem, there was evidence of progress being made when it came to smoking.
The survey also revealed that smoking among young teenagers has fallen to its lowest level since records began almost 30 years ago – figures that were welcomed by anti-tobacco campaigners..
The figures showed that smoking levels among 13-year-olds and 15-year-olds, while fluctuating over time, had dropped to a new low in 2010.
The survey, which began in 1982, also showed a fall from 30 per cent for boys and girls aged 15 in 1996 to 11 per cent for boys and 14 per cent for girls in 2010.
The health secretary said that the Scottish Government had taken measures to restrict access to alcohol in children, including cutting sales to under-18s
“It is encouraging that there is an on-going decrease in the proportion of 13-year-olds and 15-year-olds who have ever had an alcoholic drink.
“However, this is tempered by the increase of the proportion of pupils who reported as having drunk in the previous week,” she said.
“Young people remain at greater risk from alcohol-related harm and associated risk-taking behaviours.”

Thousands of foster carers needed to prevent a care 'crisis'

There will be no care crisis if they look to grandparents more closely. Like the 'Charter for Grandchildren' suggests. (Grandparents Apart UK.)

Sue Laurie of Fostering network said on STV news today 20^th December 2011 that the closer children are kept to their own home environment the better it was for them. That tells me they are all talking grandparents but just won't say the words.

By Janaki MahadevanTuesday, 20 December 2011

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Social_Care/article/1109915/thousands-foster-carers-needed-prevent-care-crisis/?DCMP=EMC-CONCYPNow%20Daily

At least 8,750 new foster families need to be found across the UK in the next 12 months to avoid a crisis in the care system, the Fostering Network has claimed.

The number of children living with foster carers rose to 59,000 in 2011. Image: Morguefile

According to the charity, the number of children in need of a foster home has risen for five years in a row and around 14 per cent of the foster care work force retire or leave each year.

The average age of foster carer was 46 in 2000 rising to 53 in 2009 and the number of children living with foster carers rose from 49,700 in 2005 to 59,000 in 2011.

The Fostering Network says an extra 7,100 foster carers are needed in England, 1,000 in Scotland, 550 in Wales and 100 in Northern Ireland.

A Christmas message.

www.grandparentsapart.co.uk/xmas/james.htm

A Christmas message.

http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk/xmas/jimmy.htm

Grandparents Apart Wales

Dear Friends and Members,

 The Family Justice Review Panel's Final Report is avaiable for you to look over and be the wiser for it.

We could write a book about what is in the report and a bigger volume of literature of what is not in it.

This report was an initiative by the last Labour government who recognised that Family law and the Children's Act 1989 was not proficient enough in protecting children and that changes had to be made.

We contributed to this report citing cases including one that had a toddler who was a prisoner, kept away from all blood relations until 4.1/2 years later she sorted her situation out herself at 6 years of age.

So really there was a need for an investigation into the treatment of our children and the damage caused to them when their parents fall out of love with each other.

Ed Balls went one step further in his quest to protect children by saying grandparent's rights of access to them should be made law (January 2010) and this was then adopted by the Conservatives prior to the General Election of 2010 and later by the coalition government.

We don't hear so much about these rights now.

The final report of the Family Justice Review Panel contains only suggestions, and the government's response is its considering and suppositions such as these have been going on for years and it is time to put the meat on the bones.

Both the panel and the Ministry of Justice agree that the law should recognise that parents be enabled to make their own arrangements for their children and I enclose the government's statement on that.


"As set out in the Coalition Programme for Government, this Government is committed to encouraging shared parenting and is firmly of the view that children should have meaningful relationships with both parents after separation.  We will examine carefully the Panel's recommendations as part of achieving that commitment."
The question is where is the parenting agreement that gives the child equal opportunities to be with both parents.
Mediation between the parents is recognised by all concerned as the best way forward and we agree so why if it is the best way forward is it not mandatory?
Surprise surprise, children and their love of their grandparents are not mentioned at all as a love that needs protected, yet grandparents are the biggest percentage group of children carers in the country who do not need to be screened for security.
It is clear that we are indebted to those MP's and Assembly Members who are active in trying to protect our children and who recognise the emotional damage, parents separating have on children, then, denied the love and stability of the greater family.
I am sure that we will return to this again as when it is read carefully it does not really protect the child by keeping the child in the family environment that they know and love but has more of a concern about rushing children from care to adoption.
My thanks to all for your points of view which are appreciated. We only wish we could do more to help.
Frank
Grandparents Apart Wales

"Bonnie" My baby.Gentle as a lamb.

                                                  "Bonnie"
                                                 My gentle Pup

T- In the park

Whoopee!!!

Great stuff if you can handle it.

Domestic violence policy is a 'war on men' claims Tory MP

Published on Friday 17 December 2010 10:23

A TORY councillor has vowed not to campaign for his party until it reverses a policy designed to combat domestic violence.
Portsmouth City Councillor James Williams (pictured) announced he will not work for the Tories outside his own Nelson ward unless it withdraws the new 'Go' orders.

The orders give senior police officers on-the-spot rights to remove men suspected of committing acts of domestic abuse from their homes for 48 hours. Courts can then extend that to two weeks.

The policy was designed by the last Labour government, but is now being piloted in three areas of the UK by Home Secretary Theresa May. There is no equivalent policy aimed at women. Cllr Williams says the orders challenge freedom and are part of a feminist war on men.

'As an elected Conservative councillor, I am ashamed Theresa May has chosen to adopt totalitarian methods in the ongoing war against men by the feminist movement,' he said.

'I shall not take part in any election campaign for the Conservatives outside my own ward until this vile sexist legislation is removed.'

He added: 'This is a Stalinist policy and goes against everything I believe in as a Conservative.

'I am in the party because I believe in freedom and fairness, and this policy is the opposite.

'Domestic violence, both physical and emotional, is a very serious problem, but this policy gives police the power to act as judge and jury, kicking men out of their homes.

'What if a woman alleges domestic abuse even if none has happened? It's unfair that this policy will deprive men from seeing their children even if they've done nothing wrong.'

Nicki Youern, chief exec of YOU, which runs Portsmouth's women's refuge, said: 'It's a little early to make definite judgments on this policy.

'We don't know what effect it will have and it is only being piloted at the moment. But it may help to protect vulnerable women and children from violence.'

Councillor Donna Jones, chairwoman of Portsmouth North Conservative party, said: 'He has told us his position and we have accepted it.'

Pregnant Mother Driven To Suicide By Social Servic....

Codene noreply-comment@blogger.com

show details 03:48 (6 hours ago)

Codene  has left a new comment on your post "Pregnant Mother Driven To Suicide By Social Servic...":
Now here I am contemplating suicide, which is why I looked up to see if any other mother/father has been driven to suicide at the hands of incompetent and also maliciously lying social workers. I was/am a good Mum. i did my very best and gave my all to those children. They were well fed, well clothed, had bicycles, toys galore.We were always out and about, outings to the park or cinemaa or beach in good weather and walking everywhere as no car. My kiods were healthy , fit and active and I didnt have computer games in the house and only one small tv as I didnt believe in tellys in each room or  computer games either. i would rather see my kids out kicking a ball or playing with friends. Now my 5 youngest children are all being cared for, and I dont know if I will ever get them back. Tomorrow I might lose them, two weeks before Christmas. My eldest son (24) is coming home for xmas after being away for 2yrs in Australia. I asked the social workers months ago for permission to have the 5 younger ones back for xmas as their elder brother was returning home again. I have been told that i wont be having them back for xmas. Their big brother is arriving back on xmas eve to an empty house. He is an adult and could 'supervise' them as indeed he used to and knows how to do it as he;s used to young children having 5 younger siblings. The social workers are doing their best not to let me see them for xmas. i was told they would ask the 5 in care 'if they wanted to see their eldest brother'. I can hardly believe  it.   There is so much more.... I could write a book... they tried to stop my daughter from attending the music school she won the bursary for. At  the very last minute they told me i was going to have to come up with £3,500 for her 'guardianship service fees' (as my contact with her is on a 'supervised only' basis which means I can not go over and spend 'free' weekends with her, neither can I bring her back myself on the ferry. She must be collected by someone else. When she came home for half -term  it cost the socila services OVER £800 in plane fares alone, not counting trains, taxis, other expenses etc. This is the same social services who could not pay for ONE TAXI RUN once a week for the children to visit their dad and granny! Now they even have to send a social worker over once a month to visit my daughter and cover those costs. They are also trying to stop my next tow children from going for their auditions. When  and where will this all end? I hope I will have the will to keep on living to tell my tale, an horrific tale riddled with false accusations and injustices beyond belief.  I face Christmas on my own and I will miss my 11 yr olds birthday which is on the 24th, Christmas eve. I just cant take musch more.

The truth about Woman's Aid. Cardiff Council.

THE founder of Britain’s first women’s refuge has backed Cardiff council deputy leader over controversial remarks about anti-domestic violence charities that led to him being suspended from Plaid Cymru.
Fairwater councilor Neil McEvoy posted comments on Twitter and Facebook accusing two Welsh women’s groups of perpetrating “publicly funded child abuse”.
Both organisations – Welsh Women’s Aid and Safer Wales – reacted angrily to the councilor’s remarks, accusing him of spreading a hate campaign against them based on unsubstantiated allegations.
Although Councilor McEvoy has apologised publicly for the emotive nature of his language, he has not withdrawn his central accusation that they have helped women to defy court orders.
Now Erin Pizzey, who founded the first women’s refuge in London in 1971 and is the author of several books on domestic violence, has sprung to Councilor McEvoy’s defence.
In a letter to the Echo, she said she supported Councilor McEvoy and that in her experience some women were as violent “as the men they left”.
“I believe, and there are many people and organisations that support my belief, that domestic violence is not a gender issue but is directly as a result for some children of being born into violent and dysfunctional families,” she wrote. Ms Pizzey said she was “horrified” Councilor McEvoy had been suspended for voicing concerns “that have been raised by many people and organisations over the years”.
“I also believe that to separate children from a much loved parent without any serious evidence is akin to abuse of that child,” she continued.
“I have always been critical of the Women’s Aid general policy of banning men from working within the refuges and refusing to allow boys over the age of 12 refuge – this applies in most refuges. Why deny male children refuge?
“We live in a democratic society and Mr Mc-Evoy has a right to his opinion and to express his doubts. If the Welsh Assembly are seriously concerned with the issue of domestic violence as I know they are then I ask that this man be given a platform to make his case and his suspension lifted.



“I support Mr McEvoy’s statement and I am writing to you to put on record that I am ashamed to think that there is a cabal of members in the Assembly who want to silence him without a just cause.”
Councilor McEvoy last night told the Echo he was pleased to have received the support of Ms Pizzey. Neither Welsh Women’s Aid nor Safer Wales wished to comment on Ms Pizzey’s letter of support.
But last week Paula Hardy, chief executive of Welsh Women’s Aid, said: “The comments posted by Councilor McEvoy and the outrageous and unsubstantiated claims he makes are the latest in a two-year campaign of hatred against Welsh Women’s Aid and our member groups that provide vital and lifesaving services to women and children throughout Wales.”
Ms Hardy’s comments were endorsed by Barbara Natasegara, chief executive of Safer Wales.
On Saturday, a membership panel of Plaid Cymru’s national executive committee will decide what penalty, if any, should be imposed on Councilor McEvoy.
His suspension from the party has also seen him stripped of his role as leader of the Plaid group on Cardiff council.
Meanwhile, a fresh row has erupted over comments about Children’s Commissioner Keith Towler put on Councilor McEvoy’s Facebook site by supporters of the Real Fathers for Justice group.
Mr Towler was a member of the Family Justice Review panel, which last month published a report which failed to satisfy Real Fathers for Justice. One supporter of the group, Jem Pogue, wrote on Councilor McEvoy’s site: “(You) can tell Towler that he is now very much a legitimate target for all fathers’ rights groups.”
Another group supporter posted Mr Towler’s address on Councilor McEvoy’s site, where it remained for more than a month.
Cardiff council Labour group spokeswoman Cerys Furlong said: “I wasn’t previously aware of the comments relating to the Children’s Commissioner, but it’s scandalous to publish personal details in this way.”
Responding, Councilor McEvoy said: “I only censor postings if they are racist, sexist or homophobic. It’s a free forum, so far as I’m concerned.”

He subsequently said he would be taking down the address.

A spokeswoman for Mr Towler confirmed he was aware his address had been posted on the site, but said he did not wish to comment

Thank you Sheila. Merry Christmas.

Sheila Cook

I am a Grandma and have been denied getting to know my Grandchildren. My Grandchildren don't know me - they are not allowed access. I don't know if they are aware that me and their Granddad even exist. They have also been denied getting to know all the rest of our Family including their Great Grandparents, Uncles and Aunties, Cousins and our great friends. They have missed out on so much. Some Family members are no longer with us so they will never know them - A CRYING SHAME.

I've just copied the following paragraph from my Grandparents Apart UK Christmas Newlsetter :

'Grandmothers! There is an element among women who specialise in stopping you seeing your grandchildren even if you have done no wrong. Can you believe another woman would do that? This needs to be known because grandparents and the children are innocent victims of certain women whom the government allow to manipulate the law for their selfish means.'

Please help to support the cause, all us innocent victims need to make everyone aware of these tragic circumstances.

Jimmy Deuchars and his wife Margaret work tirelessly on our behalf. I shall be sending a donation to them this Christmas because all their time is given freely and they need funds to carry on their vital work. They are wonderful people.

I would be so appreciative if you would pass this on to all your friends on Facebook. Thank you very much.

Sheila xxxxx

Grandparents Apart

www.grandparentsapart.co.uk

Display Web page text larger or smaller? On View menu, point to Text Size, and then click the size you want.

Grandparents Apart Wales

Dear Friends and members,

I apologise for cluttering up your mail box but I realise that some of you will like to know that we as a group support you at this time of anxiety which is totally unnecessary and uncalled for.

I have today posted the following on Facebook.
I am indebted to those of you who have found time to email or telephone me, it really is appreciated and encouraging.
Best wishes
Frank


"I was fortunate as were many others to watch the debate in the Senedd on the 23rd November 2011 led by Janet Finch-Saunders AM and ably supported by her colleagues Mark Isherwood AM, Antoinette Sandbach AM and Russell George AM for a Charter for Grandchildren and I did so with great interest, and following the debate the charity received more enquiries from the public for help and support. 
We in Grandparents Apart Wales owe an immense debt of gratitude to the Conservative Group in the National Assembly of Wales because that debate again brought to the fore the anxiety and concerns of families who for no logical or just reason are denied access to their grand/children by the resident parent or Children’s Agencies highlighting the psychological and emotion damage such decisions have on the minds of the children involved and the future consequences of such unwarranted action will have on society which in many instances we are witnessing today.
We believe that the concerns of grand/parents who are denied access to their grand/children should be brought to the attention of their Devolved Government Members or their Member of Parliament because only by giving them notice will the plight of millions be quantified and heard."
Grandparents Apart Wales

Grandparents Apart UK,Christmas Newsletter December 20011

Grandparents Apart UK,

Christmas Newsletter 1^stDecember 20011

Demo of all Demos.

What a day. I must consider this demo to be the most informative demo we have ever had. Tourists were agog and locals lapped us up. Media attention was magic.

New Fathers for Justice, Family Needs Fathers, Grandparents Apart UK. We had a ball. Lots of Santa’s gathered at the Scottish Parliament with only one thing on their mind is their children who they sadly are refused contact with for no real reason. All because of the unjust one sided family laws of this land. We ran out of leaflets as people were asking for them all the way.

The demo was very peaceful and we can’t thank the Parly Polis enough who went out of their way to make sure we got a strict but fair march.

We walked up the royal mile and stopped against the wall opposite the City Chambers so as to not interfere with the soldiers who were marching past.

One old guy looking the worst for wear dressed in a shabby black coat hair down his back came up to us and said he was from the council and would we move on as he didn’t think it was appropriate for us to be there. Some of our members are soldiers and we couldn’t be more proud of them like they were our own sons. We kept a low profile and applauded them like the heroes they all are.

Onwards to the courts for a show then down Princes Street making friends all the way. Margaret and I left them as we could not stand the bitter cold any longer.

Thursday 1^st December 20011 10.am-3pm @ The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh marching up the Royal Mile. All welcome for a peaceful demo on:-

Government departments to legally accept dads and grandparents by accepting:-

1. Shared Parenting to be the norm in the UK.

2. The Charter for Grandchildren

3. Stop Woman’s aAid and Social services alienating innocent Dad’s and Grandparents.

New Fathers for Justice, Family Needs Fathers, Grandparents Apart UK.

Ends.

I cannot blame you for being despondent about the way grandparents are treated by the government but think about it a few years ago the governments did not even consider grandparents as human beings capable of thinking for themselves or even raising their voice about wanting to see their loved ones. Now they know we are there!! We must gather our resolve to fight for our rights as grandparents and to demand the respect that we deserve.

The Tory’s con for votes before the election that they were giving sweeping new rights for grandparents was rubbish which we blew out of the water as a scam. Then David Norgrove’s ramblings about dads and grandparents being beaten once again.

We need to know and expose what we are up against.

1, Shared parenting to be the norm in the UK.

When a parents fall out for whatever reason, why then should the mother have an automatic right to say whether the dad sees the kids or not. The kids are seldom considered here only the desires of the mother appear to be important. Not every one parent is an expert and can and do make mistakes in bringing up children So two caring parents will be better for the children.

2, The Charter for Grandchildren to be made legal.

The Charter for Grandchildren was created by a Scottish Government in response to evidence of the need for it. Grandparents were being ignored and alienated by professionals like social services and Woman’s Aid and children are being taken into care when it would have been better for them to stay with their grandparents or afamily member.

It is well known children from the care system are more likely to grow up bitter and resentful about being removed from their family and become unmanageable and join gangs. They are often non achievers incapable of getting or keeping a job. (Like Eastenders Billy Mitchell and partner and their granddaughter who are perfectly well portrayed as a dysfunctional family that has been through the care system)

The Charter for Grandchildren was designed for professionals to look more closely at the role grandparents could play in a child’s life but as advisory the spirit of it is not being entered into it and needs to be made nandatory.

3, Stop Woman’s Aid and Social services alienating innocent Dad’s and Grandparents.

Woman’s Aid is funded by the government and their speciality is to protect women from domestic abuse. It was founded for battered women which we all agree to but it appears they have taken it upon themselves to alienate even innocent dads and grandparents from a child’s life. Women callers are apparently advised to say they have been assaulted by their husband for better effect.

A child has no choice in this and it is not in a child’s best interest to be separated from dads and grandparents at a whim.

Grandmothers! There is an element among women who specialise in stopping you seeing your grandchildren even if you have done no wrong. Can you believe another woman would do that? This needs to be known because grandparents and the children are innocent victims of certain women whom the government allow to manipulate the law for their selfish means.

Jimmy Deuchars

Grandparents Apart UK

22 Alness crescent

Glasgow G52 1PJ

0141 882 5658

http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk

Grandparents contribute more than just financial support, Catholic group says

Friday, 02 December 2011 10:08

Grandparents are "worth their weight in gold", according to the founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association after the publication of a report which showed grandparents are worth £3,500 to their families each year.


The 21st Century Grandparenting report said grandparents were now contributing at least 10 hours free childcare – a rise of over an hour in the last year. According to the report commissioned by the over-50s insurance group RIAS, nearly half of all grandparents are providing such care, equating to approximately £1,830 a year.

And the same amount are prepared to make regular financial payouts to help improve standards of living. Clothes, days out and gifts are frequently paid for by grandparents and they contribute towards computers and driving lessons.

However the founder of the CGA, Catherine Wiley, told The Universe that quantifying the savings grandparents can make for families missed the point.

"Grandparents help families in every way but most importantly with spiritual and emotional support. They are very unvalued, particularly when it comes to passing on the faith and moral values. The value of their life experience and lived wisdom is incalculable," said Mrs Wiley.

"The aspirations they held as parents have been superseded by more fundamental hopes. As parents we want the best education and the best jobs for our children but when we become grandparents we just want our grandchildren to be decent people because we have realised the true essence of life.

"Often we are better with our grandchildren than we were with our children. Grandparents have a difficult and challenging role in the family and it is essential not to undermine the parents.

"We are the stabilisers of the family, our love is unconditional and there is no sacrifice we will not make. We love our children but we adore our grandchildren," she said.

Founded in Ireland, the CGA is fast-becoming a major force in the support of family life. Last month the association addressed the European Marian Shrine Directors' Conference at which every shrine director agreed to organise a grandparents' pilgrimage and to display the Pope's prayer for grandparents.

Mrs Wiley has been invited by the Pontifical Council for the Family to address the World Family Meeting in Milan next year to give the witness and testimony of the vocation of grandparents.

And plans are already advancing for the Pope to lead a CGA pilgrimage in Rome in 2013, at which the solidarity of Catholic grandparents across the world will be celebrated.

Excelent letter from Grandparents Apart Wales

Vivian A. Cornelius, LL30 1BH

Vulnerable Children Team, Department of Health,

Social Services and Children.

3^rd December 2011

Dear Vivian

                      Charter for Grandchildren

Please accept my thanks in the first instance for the courtesy shown to me by your response to my email requesting support from Gwenda Thomas AM Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services for the Aberconwy Assembly Member Janet Finch-Saunders AM who led the short debate in the Senedd on the 23^rd November 2011 for “A Charter for Grandchildren.”

Janet Finch-Saunders AM and Mark Isherwood AM have been working with Grandparents Apart Wales for many years and they know by the amount of case work they receive the true reality and concerns of families who for no logical reason are denied access to their grand/children and the psychological and emotion damage such decisions have on the minds of the children involved.

I was fortunate as were many others to watch the debate and I did so with great interest and following the debate the charity has received more enquiries from the public for help and support.

Now that the charter has been mentioned in the Senedd we feel that we can move on from there with greater authority, and vigour to help those grand/parents denied access to their grand/children here in Wales.

You letter to me was extremely encouraging in so much, that for the first time we are in receipt of a communication on behalf of a Government Minister recognising and advocating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when usually it is our charity and others that campaign for its recognition and promotion.

We are happy to say that it follows that we have more in common concerning the protection and the rights of grand/children than differences.

Returning to the confusion aspect in the terminology that the minister uses frequently regarding the charter,

we reiterate the fact that Grandparents Apart UK were campaigning for a Charter for Grandchildren many years before the governments in the UK recognised the UNCRC and we in our campaigns used the UNCRC to support the rights of children, to be protected by such a charter which as you know was adopted in Scotland in 2006.

I cite the letter written by the Deputy Minister to Val Lloyd AM, Chair of the Petitions Committee dated 18^th November 2009 in response to our petition for A Charter for Grandchildren which makes no reference to the UNCRC at all yet it is now the corner stone of the Deputy Minister’s response.


There is such a lot of legal argument resulting in many court appearances regarding children’s issues which has naturally consequences to the minds of children where a Charter for Grandchildren is simple and concise.

On Thursday the 1^st December 2011 there was a protest march in Edinburgh by members and sympathisers from Grandparents Apart UK, Fathers Need Families, and Fathers for Justice to highlight the fact that the Scottish Charter for Grandchildren is being totally ignored by the people employed in Children’s Agencies to the detriment of families and children in particular.

It is our experience from the many enquiries that we receive that Children’s Agencies here in Wales work to their own agenda paying no heed at all to the UNCRC or any other measures that the Welsh Government have in place to protect the wellbeing of children, when they are involved in the conflict of their parents whom they love equally.

No matter what the criteria or principles the Welsh Government adopt or recognise regarding the rights of the child here in Wales it is the enforcing of the government’s statutory entitlements and commitments to families and grand/children that is essential and absolutely necessary, but sadly this is not happening.

If these entitlements and commitments were enforced there would evolve a change in parent’s perception which would recognise the need for agreements to be made considering the situation of their children, and it is our contention that any arrangements made regarding children’s wellbeing should be made prior to the parent’s separating and not post when parent’s lives are in turmoil with so many other issues needing attention.

Our thanks Vivian to you and the minister who was benevolent as she was gracious in staying in the Senedd to parcipate and answer Janet Finch-Saunders AM’s call for a Charter for Grandchildren when all other Assembly Members with the exception of the Conservative had left the chamber for whatever reason.

Grandparents Apart Wales recognise the minister’s politeness and good manners and hope that we may write to her again.

Our best wishes



Frank Bradfield,

Grandparents Apart Wales

Very peaceful Demo. Yesterday 1st December 20011

What a day. I must consider this demo to be the most informative demo we have ever had. Tourists were agog and locals lapped us up. Media attention was magic.

 New Fathers for Justice, Family Needs Fathers, Grandparents Apart UK. We had a ball. Lots of Santa’s gathered at the Scottish Parliament with only one thing on their mind is their children who they sadly are refused contact with for no real reason.  All because of the unjust one sided family laws of this land.  We ran out of leaflets as people were asking for them all the way.

 The demo was very peaceful and we can’t thank the Parly Polis enough who went out of their way to make sure we got a strict but fair march.

 We walked up the royal mile and stopped against the wall opposite the City Chambers so as to not interfere with the soldiers who were marching past.

 One old guy looking the worst for wear dressed in a shabby black coat hair down his back came up to us and said he was from the council and would we move on as he didn’t think it was appropriate for us to be there. Some of our members are soldiers and we couldn’t be more proud of them like they were our own sons. We kept a low profile and applauded them all the way.

 Onwards to the courts for a show then down Princes Street making friends all the way. Margaret and I left them as we could not stand the bitter cold any longer.

Thursday 1^st December 20011 10.am-3pm @ The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh marching up the Royal Mile. All welcome for a peaceful demo.

1.          Shared Parenting to be the norm in the UK.

2.          The Charter for Grandchildren to be made legal.

3.           Stop Woman’s aid alienating innocent dad’s and  Grandparents.

Demo this Thursday. RFFJ, FnF Grandparents Apart UK

Salmond to face protest at Hearts football match

A Fathers 4 Justice protest at Holyrood in 2004

Published on Monday 28 November 2011 12:13

MEMBERS of a fathers’ rights group are planning to confront Alex Salmond during a football match at Tynecastle and climb on the roofs of some the Capital’s “prominent buildings” as part of their latest protest.

Campaign group New Fathers 4 Justice, which champions rights for fathers and grandparents in the face of a family breakdown, is set to stage its first major event in Scotland for several years this Thursday, which will include scaling some of the city’s landmarks if they are “prevented from doing other [more peaceful] things”.
A spokesman for the group also revealed that “between now and the New Year” some members intended to track down Alex Salmond and “cause chaos” during one of his visits to watch Hearts after they received information about his route to the stadium.
Their first demonstration, from 9am on December 1, includes a march to the Scottish Parliament and up the Royal Mile wearing superhero and Santa costumes.
Spokesman Richard Adams stressed their wish to conduct a “peaceful protest”, but he pointed out that they were willing to climb roofs if they are prevented from carrying out their initial plans.
He said: “That’ll be the back-up situation if we are prevented from doing other things, if it is our only option. We’d prefer to keep this peaceful, although you could quite easily see one or two dads on a building. This is our first major protest in Scotland since 2005 and we have people travelling from all over the country. It is to support fathers and grandparents who don’t see their child or grandchild. Christmas is such a tough time.
“We’ll walk towards the Parliament as we know Alex Salmond will be inside for question time. We are calling on him to support fathers, to support a presumption of contact if the child is not at risk.”
Protesters are assembling at the car park at Abbey Lane, Abbeyhill, from 9am. They will then march down to Holyrood and demonstrate outside the Parliament before moving up the Royal Mile. Mr Adams added that a small number of members would meet elsewhere in case police decided to use “strong-arm tactics”.
He pointed out that the Hearts ambush would take place at a later date. He said: “That protest is slightly separate. Somebody well connected to the club who supports our cause has told us when he [Salmond] is there and we have been provided with a map of how he gets to the stadium.
“We are not targeting Hearts, we are targeting Alex Salmond. We want him to say he supports more rights for fathers and grandparents when a family breakdown happens. It’s all about equality and asking why a father doesn’t have that equality.”
Jimmy Deuchars, a campaigner for grandparents’ rights, added: “At Christmas time we get such sad stories building up from grandparents who are not allowed to see their grandchildren. Some grandparents have a room full of presents which they save in the hope that they’ll see them someday.”

Grandparents Apart Wales.

        A Grandmother’s Anguish 25th November 2011                                  
On Wednesday the 23rd November 2011 the Deputy Minister for Social Services said in plenary that Wales leads the UK in listening to children by incorporating the 42 Articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law.

However we have since heard this story from a Welsh grandmother which tragically questions the Deputy Minister’s statement and her implication that the Welsh Government recognises and is fully committed to the articles in the UNCRC.

This is a story of Pauline (Fictitious Name) who sadly lost her son last year so the children involved had the colossal trauma of having to deal with that as did Pauline. Then the children lost their maternal grandfather which caused them more immeasurable distress and possible psychological damage, and at a time when the whole family should have been together sharing this grief and supporting each other Pauline was desperately trying to get contact with her grandchildren.

Pauline sent presents and cheques as most loving grandparents do at birthdays, Xmas etc. but those were disregarded.

Pauline met with the maternal grandmother to try and build bridges with the children’s mother and when this proved unsuccessful, Pauline took the only path left open to her which was to approach a Solicitor in Family Law for advice.
Mediation was arranged but the children’s mother didn’t bother to turn up at the session and when no progress was made, the case went to court where to Pauline’s astonishment the character assignation of her began.

Pauline was accused of interfering and that the children aged 6 and 8 years of age would not be safe in her company. She was even accused of having once tried to kidnap the children.
There was not a scrap of evidence produced in court to support any of these allegations made by the mother’s solicitor and the case was adjourned.

Later Pauline returned to the same court and CAFCASS I am pleased to say had written to the court that they could find no reason why the children could not stay over at Pauline’s. They also wrote that the mother had to be in control.
Pauline’s barrister stated that there was no logical reason why Pauline should not see her grandchildren but the court never made a decision and again it was adjourned.

Pauline was never offered a supervised visit with her grandchildren or she would have accepted it unconditionally which should have proved her sincerity in her application to see her grandchildren.

So Pauline has followed the proper procedures in Wales where ministers and the authorities are supposedly implementing the UNCRC and where the Deputy Minister has said that children in Wales are listened to and that their interests are paramount.

So what did the children have to say in this case you may ask, and who listened to them, or what are the children being told about the court case and especially, why, it is necessary for their loving grandmother to go to court and take action against their mother?
Just what information are these children getting and from whom? 

It is only when one reads such things that one realises the futility of it all and the damage that is being done unconsciously to the children involved and society as a whole.

We in Grandparents Apart Wales implore the Welsh Government to be transparent in their respect for the wishes of children so that, they are heard and protected and that they have the knowledge of their family’s history, culture and religion which in the above case is being totally ignored because it is the children’s Welsh heritage link on the paternal side that the mother by her determined action is denying the children.

The Deputy Minister said that “A Charter for Grandchildren” would only confuse matters connected with children, but we are crystal clear what rights of a child should be protected and the first is the child’s right of access to both parents and the wider family which by its very makeup gives the child that love, affection, and stability so needed for the child’s welfare and wellbeing which benefits their future and that of society.

All governments in the United Kingdom acknowledge the importance of grandparent’s to the family so why is there not more commonsense to protect grandparents furthermore why does the courts not recognise how essential it is that children have access to their grand/parents or at least declare good reason why not.

We thank Pauline for allowing us to tell her story.

Frank
Grandparents Apart Wales

http://t.co/1qnWEiv2

Petition to Scrap the FAMILY JUSTICE REVIEW FINAL REPORT (EDM 2382)

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22695

Demo on 1st December 2011. Christmas theme.

                                        Demo of all Demos.

Thursday 1^st December 20011 10.am-3pm @ The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh marching up the Royal Mile.

A Christmas Theme for the love of our children. Dress code Santa’s outfit pressies and carols will be sung.  (ahem)

We call on the Scottish Government to listen to the people who suffer rather than the people who profit from the unfair Justice System of our country.

1.       Shared Parenting to be the norm in the UK.

2.       The Charter for Grandchildren to be made legal.

Shared Parenting as defined in the following.

 By FNF Scotland on Wednesday, November
23, 2011 at 2:16PM

The Swiss government has decided that separated parents should automatically have joint custody of their children except in cases involving the specific protection of the child.
When a couple splits or gets divorced, custody of their children will be shared without the need for a prior agreement or the approval of a judge.

Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said that the Federal Council considered the move obvious, since a child has the right to build an autonomous relationship with both father and mother.

All political parties, as well as family and children's associations, welcomed Sommaruga’s proposal, which is widely expected to pass into law when voted on in parliament in the coming weeks.

But while joint custody is set to become the norm, a judge will still have to sign off on the suitability of both parents to take responsibility for their children. A parent may be denied custody for reasons including infirmity, a history of violence or absence.

At present in Switzerland, when a couple divorces, one parent generally gets sole custody. If the couple is not married, the mother is the legal custodian. For now, joint custody is only possible if both parties sign an agreement on how they plan to distribute and share alimony and childcare.

The draft proposal also regulates the question of residence. If a parent wishes to move, either alone or with the child, he or she will need the consent of the other party. If there is no agreement, a judge will have to intervene to protect the well-being of the child.

Making The Charter for Grandchildren Legal:- 

 The Charter for Grandchildren was created by a Scottish Government in response to the evidence for the need of it by Grandparent’s Apart UK. However it was only made advisory to accompany the new 206 Family Law 2006 Act.

 It has proven that professionals working in the welfare of children are not entering into the spirit of the Charter as the government had hoped and now requires for the Charter to be made mandatory for the benefit of our children.  The Charter for Grandchildren does not give grandparents any power over parents or any authority looking after children but does ensure that the role grandparents can play in a child’s lives is utilised to the full or an explanation to the contrary. At present grandparents are mostly ignored as irrelevant persons when they express concern over the way children are being treated by the said professionals.  (Totally blind obedience or out)

It is well recognised that grandparents are the biggest carers of children in the world and a child has a far greater chance of growing up with love and stability than a child that has been through the care system. It is well known again that a child that goes through the care system is being deprived of the family stability element and joins gangs to fulfil that need.    The often become unmanageable, bitter, resentful and a greater chance of being a non-achiever with no respect for anyone.