Grandparents get tough in Scotland
24/04/2007
Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland (GASH) is campaigning to strike a blow for greater respect for grandparents and older people in Scotland. Chairman Jimmy Deuchars helped to create the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ last year, has launched an e-petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to make the Charter legally binding, and published a book called ‘Grandparents Speak Out for Vulnerable Children’.
The Charter for Grandchildren is an unique document accompanying the Family Law Bill 2006, and represents Scottish Ministers’ vision for children and young people in Scotland. It aims to achieve a recognised standard of care for grandchildren, so that parents, guardians, teachers, doctors, social workers and other people responsible for helping them and making decisions about their lives must legally do all they can to protect and care for them.
The Charter also highlights the vital role that grandparents can and do play in helping children to maintain some stability in their lives, and offers advice on what to do when circumstances create a loss of contact - through a quarrel, a house move, divorce, separation or even death.
Under the charter, Grandchildren could 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
And so to petitioning
But as GASH point out, although the Charter is an excellent document and contains vital information it will have little impact if is is only used to provide guidelines. Says Jimmy: "We have an e-petition on the go right now to have the Charter made legal, so please get everyone you know to sign the petition." So far 3000 signatures have handed to the Scottish Justice Minister personally.
And he hasn't stopped there. As Mr Blair tries to rally Labour support in Scotland, he might do well to take notice. "I have written to all political parties concerned in the Scottish elections to find out their plans for grandparents" said Jimmy."The only ones that replied were John Swinburne MSP of the older peoples party who said he supported us 100%. Solidarity’s Rosemary Byrne MSP is very active in fighting for our cause. She stuck her neck out at the Scottish Family Law debate 15th December 2005 for ‘The Charter for Grandchildren’ to be made legal, but was defeated by the Labours Chief whip forcing all their members to vote against her.
"Labour for grandparents are a no-no as we were made aware at that time. Scottish Conservatives and SNP have not replied, and it's the same with the other parties concerned. So with their non reply we take it their policy is to ignore these issues and anything else that needs to be addressed.
"In May or June we will be having a conference on grandparent/ grandchildrens issues in Glasgow. The date and venue will be posted on tour website and we will invite various groups concerned with family problems to come along."
... and now the book
GASH's book "Grandparents Speak Out for Vulnerable Children" contains real-life stories of the heartbreak for both grandparents and grandchildren when adults fall out or go into care.
One such grandmother - who would prefer to remain anonymous, writes: "It's a most heartbreaking thing not to be allowed to see, cuddle, kiss your own little family ... and of course they lose out because they don't know about their heritage, or about their own parents when they were young. I joined the Grandparents Association five years ago because I was having difficulties in seeing my twin grandsons (now nearly six years old). I was so desperate to see them, but not allowed to hold them or touch them. It's a long and sad story."
The book also provides excellent advice about legal and social services, and the failure of the government to address the gross injustices in family law.
To see the charter or get the book (priced £4.00p + £1.00p = £5.00p inc P&P, Overseas £6.00p), write a cheque or P.O. made out to - (Gash Scotland), Grandparents Apart Self Help Groups, 22 Alness Crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJA or visit the grandparents apart link below.
For the Grandparents Association visit the second link.