Almost a month on and we are nearing 30,000!
We are overwhelmed by just how many people are affected by this issue. This petition is part of a bigger picture and I wish to share what we have been doing behind the scenes:
1. CAFCASS - Children and Family Courts Advisory Service - Chief Executive Officer is happy to meet.
2. Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza is happy to listen to us. What we want is a survey to hear the child's voice in relation to relationships with grandparents.
3. My MP Rishi Sunak is happy to meet and it is my intention to ask him to lead on an APPG - We want an All Party Parliamentary Group to look into this and we have hundreds of grandparents wanting to share their stories.
4. Written to Family Court Judge Sir Andrew MacFarlene, who is keen to change the system believing there is a better way than family courts for supporting families in conflict.
5. We now have a working group, all volunteers, but willing to play their part to change things for children who are being deprived of established loving and safe relationships.
6. Dutton Gregory Solicitors, namely Jonathan Whettingsteel (Hampshire Law Society Solicitor of the Year) and Vanessa Lloyd Platt are offering offering their time and expertise to support this cause.
The list is longer but I am going to leave it there for now and make a request.
If you wish to join us and have time to volunteer, connect with me at my website. We cannot do this without the goodwill of people, all you need is compassion in supporting our campaign, so please put yourself forward, we are in this together.
Thank you all for signing and please keep this conversation going as this is about children.