GRANDPARENTS GROUP RECEIVE FUNDING

[Alison J Stevens]

A very much needed mediation service for grandparent’s inclusion into the family is being funded by Relationships Scotland.. We at Grandparents Apart UK are delighted by this service as we have
been asking for it for years but could not supply it ourselves because it would
need to cover the whole country and funding was not available when we applied
for it.

This project should enhance the Charter for Grandchildren which will ensure that child care professionals really do work in the best interests
of children rather than their own. The Charter was created by a previous
Scottish Government and recently accepted by Glasgow City Council. We are now
waiting very very very patiently for Glasgow social services to comment on it
supposedly this August. .

We do counselling by telephone which has enabled hundreds of grandparents to be included back in their grandchildren’s
lives. The problem is, it is generally one-sided. This new service will
encourage families to mediate in a neutral environment which will focus entirely
on the best interests of the children.

The objective is for families to become aware of the harm that is done to children when families cannot resolve
their differences and recognise that early intervention is essential to prevent
molehills becoming mountains.

This is a real breakthrough for the sake of our children and we will encourage everyone to play their part as responsible
adults and cut down on alienation and use of children as weapons in family
conflict.

It is also hoped to avoid the trauma of going to court which generally makes matters worse.. Too many children are being denied the love and
support of their extended family because of adult disagreements.

Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk

Research shows. More parents rely on grandparents. http://chatterboxblogforyou.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-parents-rely-...

Value-funding.