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