Alienated Grandparents
Fractured Lives - National Conference (post pandemic)
Photograph of the 2019 Action Day in the Houses of Parliament.
The Conference is proposed to take place in Central London from 11am to 4.30pm, on a date to be advised. Tickets for attendance at the conference will be available once the date is confirmed. .
If you would like to donate to help fund this important conference
The conference will be expensive to set up and we would very grateful for any help that you could offer. Please donate to:
- Bank Account Name: Grandparents Support Group
- Bank Account Sort Code: 23-05-80
- Bank Account Number: 37557609
- Bank Payment Reference: Your name
The long-term effects of alienation are harmful for grandchildren. They learn that attachments are temporary and that families who were once loving and close can quickly become distant and angry. Small children often form loving relationships with their grandparents which are significant. In many cases, grandparents—even those who were an intimate and involved part of their grandchildren’s lives—are suddenly denied contact. Alienation is something that no grandparent/parent should face alone.
Objectives of the propsoed conference will be to:
- Highlight the tragedy of alienation of children from their wider families.
- Initiate changes to the Children Act 1989 to include a presumption in law that it is in the best interests of the child to have a relationship with their grandparents promoted.
- Remove the requirement to 'apply for leave' prior to going to court to obtain access.
Main Conference Speakers:
Dame Esther Rantzen DBE
Dame Esther works with various charitable causes. She founded the charities ChildLine, promoting child protection, which she set up in 1986, and The Silver Line, designed to combat loneliness in older people's lives, which she set up in November 2012.
Matthew Offord MP
Matthew was first elected as Member of Parliament for the Hendon constituency in 2010. As MP for Hendon Matthew has taken up a wide range of issues in Parliament and is very supportive of our efforts.
Vicky Preece (IBB solicitors)
Vicky is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and she frequently represents children and other family members in care proceedings in London, Buckinghamshire and the home counties. Vicky is also a member of Resolution and advises and represents parents and family members in Private Law Children matters, including complex matters of parental alienation and intractable disputes.
Stuart Barlow
Stuart is in the family team at Bhatia Best Solicitors. He has specialised in Family Law for over 40 years. His focus is now on representing Parents and other parties in Children Cases. He is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and Accredited Specialist with Resolution in Private Children and Cohabitation Law. He is the former Chief Assessor of the Law Society Family Law Panel and adjudicator for the Legal Aid Agency. He also spends part of his time presenting training courses for Family Lawyers throughout England and Wales.
Sam Westmacott
Sam trained as an Educational Psychologist and in the 70's wrote a behavioural psychology book with her colleague Dr Sean Cameron, called Behaviour Can Change. Her second book was "I loved my granny and grandpa too" which she edited for TVam. It is a collection of children's memories, poems and drawings expressing their love for their grandparents. Sam has spent the last 15 years as an Expert Witness in the Family Courts. She learned the importance of continuing a relationship with grandparents where one existed and witnessed the extreme damaging effect of alienation between grandparents and their adult children, on the grandchildren's emotional wellbeing.
Conferences Sponsors
Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors : Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors experienced Family Law team will help to create and maintain a non-confrontational atmosphere with the main aim of resolving issues through sensible and constructive negotiations. However, where the need arises, Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors are ready and able to fight your corner using our highly skilled legal advocates.
IBB : IBB’s Private Client teams can support you and your family through every major life event. We help you to understand what are the best choices for you, and make the law work to deliver on those choices.
For any further information please email hendongrandparents@gmail.com