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JUSTICE and DIGNITY says Mr Gordon Brown

Jimmy Deuchars

Grandparents Apart in Scotland

Grandparents Apart Self Help Groups
22 Alness Crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658

james@grandparents.fsnet.co.uk

The children's names have been changed.

Tell that to the thousands of grandparents who are cast aside every year when asking after their grandchildren's health. The grandparents who have been derived of so much "Dignity" as grandparents they have almost given up hope." You're wasting your time" says George Lewis of Govan.

A statement from a broken old man who had his grandson removed from him when his son died, because he was told he was to old to look after him.
Maybe so, but the grandson that loved him eventually lost contact when Social Services told George his grandson did not want to see him anymore. "They just couldn't be bothered to keep our relationship going" said George fighting back tears. "That boy loved me dearly, and I loved him". A phenomenon called "Alienation" in this day and age. There is no "JUSTICE" for grandparents

It is an INJUSTICE to grandparents when they have to prove themselves in court, a fit person to have contact with their own grandchildren when they have been decent law abiding citizens all their lives. Is that DIGNIFIED?

To know the resident parent of their grandchildren can have many partners in night after night without vetting. A potentially dangerous situation, and due to unfair laws other family have to wait in terror hoping nothing bad happens to the children.

It is an "INJUSTICE" when grandparents approach Social Services to ask about their own grandchildren and are told that they don't have to tell us anything. We are irrelevant.

It is an "INJUSTICE" for grandparents who do care for their grandchildren due to drugs, death, or alcohol, without any help or respite, afraid to apply for benefits in case the children are taken away from them and even split up. Creating "Double Standards"

The Grandparents Charter was created by Scottish Executive which is just about everything we have asked for but they refuse to make it legal.

Grandparents Apart Self Help Groups have been asked to work with them on the Charter in a Stakeholders Group and have been invited to give Oral Evidence to the Justice 1 Committee in May. We have written asking for their commitment beyond the election, but to date we have had no reply.

The older generation have the highest proportion of people who actually vote so, Mr Brown when you speak of JUSTICE and DIGNITY, could you show us where it is please?

Ends

contact:
Grandparents Apart Self Help Groups
22 Alness Crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
james@grandparents.fsnet.co.uk