I've been doing some volunteering with PARENTLINE SCOTLAND, a great organisation but hardly anyone I speak to seems to be aware of it or what they do!
So a bit of a publicity drive is under way and I wondered if you would be so kind, if you thought it appropriate, to pass it on/post etc. There's a link below to a writer and blogger who posted about her experience of using the service.
http://www.bang2write.com/2011/11/writer-parents-do-you-know-about-these.html
Best wishes
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Governments answer to Eastenders real live portrayel of children brought up in care.
Original Story http://jimmydeuchars.blogspot.com/2011/10/bbc-are-doing-our-job-of-highlighting.html?spref=fb
Children and Families Directorate Care and Justice Division
T: 0131-2445479 F: 0131-244 0978
Mr Jimmy Deuchars Grandparents Apart UK 22 Alness Crescent Glasgow
G521PJ
The Scottish Government
/ Mr Deuchars,
Thank you for your e-mail of 11 October to Brian Adam MSP, in which you expressed concern around the content of the BBC programme Easfenders, as a policy officer in the team that deals with kinship care I have been asked to respond on his behalf.
The Scottish Government believes that all children and young people who experience the care system should have the same life chances as any other youngsters, and that is why it's so important we treat all children and young people equally. The latest phase of the Who Cares? Anti-stigma campaign - Give Me A Chance - plays a key part in achieving this by helping counter any negative stereotyping misguidedly attached to children and young people who are or have been in care. A link to the campaign site is here http://www.givemeachancescotland.org/ .
The Scottish . Government flrQmote~Jhe Getting itRightJocEvery Child (GIRFEC)~approach iilWleprovision ol services. to children and young people. It provides a framework for all services and agencies working with children and families to deliver a co-ordinated approach which is appropriate, proportionate and timely. Among the values and principles of the GIRFEC approach are recognising that what is going on in one part of a child or young person's life can affect many other areas of his or her life; and supporting, wherever possible, those who know the child or young person well, know what they need, what works well for them and what may not be helpful. Keeping children and young people safe is also fundamental to the approach.
If you have any concerns around the content ,of the BBC programme and feel you need to comment you can contact the broadcaster directly. This can be done in writing to BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Darlington, DL3 OUR or by completing an on-line complaints form by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/formsif you do not get a satisfactory response from the BBC then you can raise your concerns with Of com , the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. You can contact Ofcom through
IS01400lalV, .~
Victoria Quay. |
lIE INVESTOR IN PEOPLE IJISAl\.~ • .,
Monday, 14 November 2011
BBC Want to talk to grandparents
PLEASE CONTACT ANNE-MARIE DIRECT.
Anne-Marie Bullock annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk to james, me
show details 15:40 (5 hours ago)
Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for taking the time to chat just now. As I mentioned I’m researching for the BBC Radio 4 series One to One in which guests presenters interview people on a subject of interest to them. Newspaper columnist Yasmin Alibhai Brown has expressed an interest in the Family Justice Review and looking at stories of how different relationships have been affected following a divorce or relationship breakdown. I’m looking to chat to grandparents who lost access to their grandchildren following the breakdown of their child’s relationship with their partner. I know this is a sensitive issue but wondered if you have people who’d be willing to speak to me on the phone – just for a research call at this stage – especially if their cases have since been resolved.
If you’re able to contact people you’ve helped to see if they’d be willing that would be great. You can contact me on the number below or on this email.
Thanks again for your help.
Kind regards,
Anne-Marie Bullock
BBC Audio and Music Factual Production
One to One BBC Radio 4.
Zone 9A, BBC Birmingham,
The Mailbox,
Birmingham, B1 1RF
0121 567 6736
annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk
Anne-Marie Bullock annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk to james, me
show details 15:40 (5 hours ago)
Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for taking the time to chat just now. As I mentioned I’m researching for the BBC Radio 4 series One to One in which guests presenters interview people on a subject of interest to them. Newspaper columnist Yasmin Alibhai Brown has expressed an interest in the Family Justice Review and looking at stories of how different relationships have been affected following a divorce or relationship breakdown. I’m looking to chat to grandparents who lost access to their grandchildren following the breakdown of their child’s relationship with their partner. I know this is a sensitive issue but wondered if you have people who’d be willing to speak to me on the phone – just for a research call at this stage – especially if their cases have since been resolved.
If you’re able to contact people you’ve helped to see if they’d be willing that would be great. You can contact me on the number below or on this email.
Thanks again for your help.
Kind regards,
Anne-Marie Bullock
BBC Audio and Music Factual Production
One to One BBC Radio 4.
Zone 9A, BBC Birmingham,
The Mailbox,
Birmingham, B1 1RF
0121 567 6736
annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk
Friday, 15 July 2011
The Kingdom of Fife donates to charity.
Pittenweem Harbour.
Grandparents Apart UK
Grandparents Apart UK
Our grateful Thanks.
To the Grandparents & Families of *FIFE *
for holding a Charity Night
on behalf of
*Grandparents Apart UK
And for their very kind donation of
£325.00P to help in raising awareness
of The Charter for Grandchildren.
Jimmy Deuchars (Manager)
Grandparents Apart UK Glasgow UK
Alex Salmond backs down over secret tax memo
http://www.scotsman.com/news/Alex-Salmond-backs-down-over.6801836.jp?articlepage=2
15/11/2011
By Eddie Barnes
Political Editor
SNP ministers have dumped a costly legal bid to block publication of an internal Scottish Government memo that set out the multi-million-pound cost of replacing the council tax with a local income tax.
Finance secretary John Swinney announced last night that the challenge - which has cost the taxpayer more than £100,000 - would no longer be pursued, on the grounds that information from the memo had already been leaked.
It emerged in April that the 2009 paper, compiled by the Scottish Government's economic advisers, had concluded there would be a funding gap of between £366 million and £396m if ministers decided to introduce a new local income tax (LIT) of 3p - larger than previous official estimates. This would rely onUK Scotland
Within weeks of the memo being sent, the tax reform pledge was dropped.
Mr Swinney's decision to wind up the Scottish Government's challenge brings to a close a lengthy legal process that began when a daily newspaper asked for the memo detailing the costs of LIT to be published, under Freedom of Information legislation.
That prompted Mr Salmond's government to go twice to the Court of Session to stop the memo being published, afterScotland
• Analysis: Cover-up put SNP under a cloud - but tax blow had a silver lining
Opposition parties last night demanded the SNP repay the cost of the legal challenge out of their own party funds.
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said: "Alex Salmond should not only apologise to for misleading the Scottish public about his plans to hike up tax bills, but he should make sure the SNP pay back every penny of public money spent on this cynical cover-up campaign."
Emma Boon, spokeswoman for the Taxpayers'Alliance
In his statement, Mr Swinney's insisted ministers remained of the view the memo was private, but that there was no point carrying on a legal case when the figures from it were in the public domain.
He said: "Ministers legitimately pursued this appeal against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, and continue to argue the case that ministers and civil servants need private space to encourage free and frank discussion on the development of policies. This issue was always about that principle - not the specifics of the policy."
It emerged in April that the 2009 paper, compiled by the Scottish Government's economic advisers, had concluded there would be a funding gap of between £366 million and £396m if ministers decided to introduce a new local income tax (LIT) of 3p - larger than previous official estimates. This would rely on
Within weeks of the memo being sent, the tax reform pledge was dropped.
Mr Swinney's decision to wind up the Scottish Government's challenge brings to a close a lengthy legal process that began when a daily newspaper asked for the memo detailing the costs of LIT to be published, under Freedom of Information legislation.
That prompted Mr Salmond's government to go twice to the Court of Session to stop the memo being published, after
• Analysis: Cover-up put SNP under a cloud - but tax blow had a silver lining
Opposition parties last night demanded the SNP repay the cost of the legal challenge out of their own party funds.
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said: "Alex Salmond should not only apologise to for misleading the Scottish public about his plans to hike up tax bills, but he should make sure the SNP pay back every penny of public money spent on this cynical cover-up campaign."
Emma Boon, spokeswoman for the Taxpayers'
In his statement, Mr Swinney's insisted ministers remained of the view the memo was private, but that there was no point carrying on a legal case when the figures from it were in the public domain.
He said: "Ministers legitimately pursued this appeal against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, and continue to argue the case that ministers and civil servants need private space to encourage free and frank discussion on the development of policies. This issue was always about that principle - not the specifics of the policy."
The full document released yesterday confirms the figures published during the election campaign and shows how Mr Swinney was informed in January 2009 about the costs.
In the memo to him, civil servant Roddy Macdonald notes that the previous 2008 figure on the central government funding required was £281m.
He went on: "OCEA (the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser] have now produced updated projections which take into account information from the PBR (Pre-Budget Report] and latest assumptions on council tax collection and council tax benefit. Based on these, the forecast revenue difference between council tax and local income tax is now £380m."
The OCEA report, also published in full yesterday, shows how estimates of the gap that government would be required to fill to meet the cost of replacing the council tax with LIT rose over 2008 and 2009, from £281m in March 2008, to £290m in a cabinet briefing paper in September 2008, £385m in an October briefing note, and finally to between £366m and £396m in its own paper in January 2009. This was due to falling estimates in the amount of income tax revenues deemed likely.
In his note to Mr Swinney, Mr Macdonald suggested ministers and officials discuss how to publish the revised projections to parliament. However, less than a month after the memo was sent, the government dumped the policy, blaming it on the fact there was "no consensus" in the parliament for change.
Scottish Government sources said the cost of the original legal action had been £35,000, while the cost of the appeal against Mr Dunion's ruling had been £7,500. It is understood Mr Dunion's costs, also met from the taxpayer, were more than £60,000.
The Scottish Government said that by stopping the case now, "significant further costs" had been avoided.
In the memo to him, civil servant Roddy Macdonald notes that the previous 2008 figure on the central government funding required was £281m.
He went on: "OCEA (the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser] have now produced updated projections which take into account information from the PBR (Pre-Budget Report] and latest assumptions on council tax collection and council tax benefit. Based on these, the forecast revenue difference between council tax and local income tax is now £380m."
The OCEA report, also published in full yesterday, shows how estimates of the gap that government would be required to fill to meet the cost of replacing the council tax with LIT rose over 2008 and 2009, from £281m in March 2008, to £290m in a cabinet briefing paper in September 2008, £385m in an October briefing note, and finally to between £366m and £396m in its own paper in January 2009. This was due to falling estimates in the amount of income tax revenues deemed likely.
In his note to Mr Swinney, Mr Macdonald suggested ministers and officials discuss how to publish the revised projections to parliament. However, less than a month after the memo was sent, the government dumped the policy, blaming it on the fact there was "no consensus" in the parliament for change.
Scottish Government sources said the cost of the original legal action had been £35,000, while the cost of the appeal against Mr Dunion's ruling had been £7,500. It is understood Mr Dunion's costs, also met from the taxpayer, were more than £60,000.
The Scottish Government said that by stopping the case now, "significant further costs" had been avoided.
Monday, 11 July 2011
The Mission of Jesus.
The Mission of Jesus.
Jesus was born, in a stable, so unkind
His mission on earth was for the sake of mankind.
He was born to a family who were workers in wood
And his life on this earth was only for good
He was an ordinary lad growing up in hard times
But in him stirred something that was spiritually fine
He confounded the wise men with wisdom and lore
And cleared out the temple and told them 'no more'
The story of old is that he healed all the sick
Though some people thought it was some kind of trick.
T’is what YOU believe that matters to you
to listen to his teaching and to follow him too.
The priests at the time were in a bind
If people believed Jesus, then they would find
That they were controlled by lies and deceit
This truth would leave priests facing defeat.
So they plotted against him and brought him to trial
His followers were so frightened they uttered denial
The crucifixion carried out was a terrible blow
Now the truth for mankind, will they never know?
But Jesus’ mission was clear and precise
A message so simple is for all to be nice
‘to love one another as I have loved you’
If you follow this message, God will bless you.
Jesus received terrible injuries and died on the cross. No body of this earth that is dead can rise again. Remember Jesus was born as a man and therefore subject to the laws of god as we all are. As soon as the spirit leaves the body it starts decomposing. It is the law of nature have you witnessed this happening with anything else? . However that does not detract from the mission of Jesus. He was the son of god volunteering a mission to tell all mankind of the simplicity of following god’s laws to enable them to be happy and eventually through his word enter the spiritual realm which is the highest that man can go. Jesus was tortured on his visit to planet earth and suffered as a man on this earth. Not as a willing sacrifice for our sins but was murdered as a troublesome bringer of truth by the priests of the time.
His mission on earth was for the sake of mankind.
He was born to a family who were workers in wood
And his life on this earth was only for good
He was an ordinary lad growing up in hard times
But in him stirred something that was spiritually fine
He confounded the wise men with wisdom and lore
And cleared out the temple and told them 'no more'
The story of old is that he healed all the sick
Though some people thought it was some kind of trick.
T’is what YOU believe that matters to you
to listen to his teaching and to follow him too.
The priests at the time were in a bind
If people believed Jesus, then they would find
That they were controlled by lies and deceit
This truth would leave priests facing defeat.
So they plotted against him and brought him to trial
His followers were so frightened they uttered denial
The crucifixion carried out was a terrible blow
Now the truth for mankind, will they never know?
But Jesus’ mission was clear and precise
A message so simple is for all to be nice
‘to love one another as I have loved you’
If you follow this message, God will bless you.
Jesus received terrible injuries and died on the cross. No body of this earth that is dead can rise again. Remember Jesus was born as a man and therefore subject to the laws of god as we all are. As soon as the spirit leaves the body it starts decomposing. It is the law of nature have you witnessed this happening with anything else? . However that does not detract from the mission of Jesus. He was the son of god volunteering a mission to tell all mankind of the simplicity of following god’s laws to enable them to be happy and eventually through his word enter the spiritual realm which is the highest that man can go. Jesus was tortured on his visit to planet earth and suffered as a man on this earth. Not as a willing sacrifice for our sins but was murdered as a troublesome bringer of truth by the priests of the time.
These thoughts that Jesus rose again is another fantasy of churches to control the people. It is based upon what others have said. We must personally open our eyes to the truth. The laws of god are there for all to see and follow and are the simplest of all things to do. But men nowadays being highly intellectual do not recognised them worthy enough for their standing..
Even the poorest of all time had the laws of god to guide them and they could not read or write. Bibles and all kind of books have been written. By man don’t take heed of what others tell you for it is the fantasy of their own mind that is written and no man on earth has the authority to speak for god except the son of god who was murdered. The spirit of Jesus lives on in ‘do unto others what you would have them do unto you’. Love one another and thank god daily for this light to the spiritual.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
We are Grandparents
Our motto is “Bringing Families Together” with the best interests of the child at its core. When the kids say to me “what do you want for Christmas granddad” I tell them “I don’t need anything, I have got you lot”. Every grandparent I know is the same. At our age all we want is peace and happiness for all our family. As I said the children are our priority and when we see children are not treated properly it motivates us to do something about it. Grandparents are not career minded (well at least I’m not) so the only pursuit I have is to make things fairer for our family.
Thousands of grandparents have contacted me with problems of being ignored by the social system regards their grandchildren. The system says they do consider grandparents but all these grandparents can’t be wrong. Family harmony is top of our list. This needs investigating. Numerous times have I heard from older people how they are afraid to out at night or even open their doors because of the gangs that are about? I firmly believe this is the result of children not being treated properly. Forced adoption the care system all are well know for producing children who by being taken from their family become bitter and unmanageable and have low self esteem and often become non-achievers and so join gangs for that family feeling they were dragged away from when they were young.
We want to encourage kinship care, more use of grandparents and extended family rather than care or adoption. The start children have in life is extremely important if the child is to grow up into good citizens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)