I founded the group because of the situation we were experiencing with regard to contact with our grandaughter. After bringing our grandaughter up for 80% of 5 years our son and his partner separated after a relationship of 10 years.  It transpired that his partner had been having an affair with his best friend for a year. Everything came to a head in February 2000 and they separated.

As a result our son and ourselves were denied further contact and as he was not married he had no automatic right of contact and this also applies to grandparents. We had no idea of the dilemma facing grandparents and fathers (sometimes mothers). The only option open to grandparents is to make a request to the court for “leave to apply” for contact. Unmarried fathers have to apply for “parental responsibility”. We could not believe that this was happening in our country today, that our own flesh and blood our grandchildren are classed as non relative to us. We applied for an order and were put on an indirect order to send cards and appropriate presents. We were denied the right to see and speak to a child we had loved and nurtured for 5 years. It was devastating and we began a court battle which lasted almost three years, 2 years of which we had no contact with our grandaughter. This was why I started our group to help and support grandparents and it has grown beyond belief. I am in touch with many, many grandparents all over the UK and it is quite apparent that thousands of grandparents are in this position.

 Grandparents are a link to the past and a bridge to the future, for family history and medical details. To give a child a sense of belonging from the roots of their family. We must strive to make those in high places understand the injustice of the present system for the sake of our children in future. To damage families in this way is wrong, to treat grandparents like second class citizens is almost Dickensian in it’s very nature and we have to make a stand for us. On a last note we have re-established contact with our beloved grandaughter which we have to share with our son we do not have contact in our own right. The case took 2.5 years, and it has been the worst time we have ever experienced, we will never forget the 2 years we were prevented from seeing her. We were advised to leave it until she was older but we could not give up and finally we were successful, it is very hard to deal with, however I would encourage people not to give up.

CNF. Children Need Fathers                                Telephone  0870-2940075

                                                                                                     www.childrenneedfathers.org

National Society for Children & Family Contact    Telephone 0870 766 8596

                                                                              www.nscfc.com/index.htm  

   S.N.A.P.  St  Neots Abuse Project                         Telephone   01480- 396500

Jump   Jewish Unity for Multiple parenting            Telephone   0207-6924514

                                                                                      http://jump-parenting.co.uk

Mankind Initiative Mens' civil rights organisation     Telephone   0870-7944124

                                                                              www.mankind.org.uk

FNF   Families Need Fathers                                Telephone 0207- 6135060

                                                                 www.fnf.org.uk