Mayor and Mayoress offer their support

We were delighted to welcome Milton Keynes Mayor David Hopkins and his wife Susan to our meeting on Monday 24th July. They listened intently as members of the group told their heart-breaking stories of how their lives have been turned upside down and they offered support and advice.

The group explained how GranPart had helped by giving support and the opportunity to meet with others in similar situations. Solicitor Tina Shah, who has been a long-term supporter of the group, was also there to offer advice. 

We spent a whole weekend at the Blisworth Canal Festival. This was a very busy event and we managed to give out lots of leaflets and talk to many people about what our group does.

Rachel created a narrow boat cake which we then raffled off at the end of the weekend.

Our first ever outdoor event kicked off with Shenley Church End Summer Fete, held at Medbourne Pavillion Milton Keynes. 

This was a huge learning curve for the group, as we weren't sure what to expect. We decided that our stall would consist of a game for children, cakes provided by Marion's daughter Rachel, who has her own small bakery business, and lots of information about the group itself.

It was brilliant, with all the kids loving our Fish Pong game where they could win bags of sweets.

The following Saturday we attended Broughton & Brooklands MK50 Festival and this was an even greater success. We then went on to do the Harpole Scarecrow event on the 9th September.

Click on image above to watch the debate.

On  the 25th April 2017 David Mackintosh MP moved the motion to debate grandparents' rights to access to grandchildren in Westminster Hall.

He spoke strongly about the issues surrounding grandparents access and the rights of grandchildren and called for changes in the law to be further debated. He received support from other MP's who have also experienced grandparents visiting their surgeries with stories of their own traumatic situations.

We were also delighted that David mentioned the good work GranPart are doing and we thank him for his support.

The day started early for me as I was asked by 3 counties radio to talk about what we were hoping to achieve. (click to listen Media)

I attended Lobby day accompanied by Iain Stewart MP who is Patron of my group. The aim of the day was to raise awareness amongst politicians of the desperate need to recognise the rights of grandparents.

The law does not presently convey an automatic right to grandparents to have contact with their grandchildren.

At present grandparents, must firstly get over the hurdle of applying to the court for leave (permission), then if such leave is given they will formally apply to see their grandchildren for what is known as "a child arrangement order".

Solicitor Vanessa Lloyd Platt, a passionate supporter of changing the law, spoke to the group along with Dame Esther Rantzen another long term supporter.

Lynn Chesterman OBE said there will be a petition and hoping to get 100,000 signatures.

She wants to see the application for leave of court abolished and that children should have the right to see their grandparents and that children should be the main priority as grandparents play such an important role in a child’s life.

Dame Esther was impressed at the loyalty shown at the event by the number of grandparents in the room.

She had 238 testimonials from when she appeared on the One Show a few years ago with Jane Jackson from the Bristol grandparent group and she read a couple out which were all too familiar stories of most people in the room. She refers to the fact that this loss is a living bereavement. In France they already have automatic right and do not have to apply to the courts.

She touched on the fact that yes you can take this to court but at a cost a very expensive one at that.

Vanessa is a grandmother of 3 and extremely passionate about grandparent’s rights as she has lots of clients that come to her for advice. 

She wants the application for leave of court abolished, as we are behind the times with this and children should have the right to see their grandparents. She will not stop pushing this till this law is changed. She went on to say that even when you apply for a child arrangement order it is not always successful and so that is money not well spent.

In 2010 MP’s looked into making changes but no change was ever made. However, after today’s event hopefully MP’s will discuss it and put it in the manifesto.

There are many reasons why grandparents are denied access but we still should remember family loyalties and respect.

Rabbi David Mason supports a group from Hendon and he quoted the 5th commandment “Honour thy Mother and Father” which says it all really.

Lynn Chesterman did the summary of the discussion and said this WILL go to the policy board and in the next manifesto for the next election.

CONTACT MARION:

01604 830070

07842 146637