Once again we are reaching the end of yet another year, and what a year it has been!

It started with our video about Bristol Grandparents Support Group being shortlisted and being a finalist of The Charity Film Awards, something we are all proud of.

We had a meeting with our local MP Darren Jones, who was very supportive.

We were named as in the Top 50 of blogs for grandparents.

We  worked with Nigel Huddleston MP and Dame Esther on the possibility of having a Westminster debate on Grandchildren’s Rights, and  it was held in May. There was an enormous reaction to the debate from cross party MP’s, we are still working towards a small change in The Children Act or Children and Families Act.

Lucy Frazer MP Justice Minister says it is still high on her list of priorities.

The subject was discussed widely in the media, Victoria Derbyshire, Bristol Post,  Western Daily Press, The Telegraph, The Sun, Radio Bristol, BBC News, Loose Women, The Wright Stuff, ITV This Morning, Daily Mail, Radio Ulster, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent., BBC 5Live. Radio Kent.

Several new groups started up, offering support for grandparents.

The World Health Organisation acknowledged Parental Alienation. (now  included in the new edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a synonym or an index term for the specific diagnosis of QE52.0 Caregiver-child Relationship Problem)

Marc and I visited several support groups, who are doing a great job.

Thank you to all leaders of support groups, so many grandparents are now getting help, you are all amazing.

There were many reconciliations during 2018.

The highlight of the year for us personally was that our granddaughter contacted her Dad for the first time in 11 years and we were all reunited in May.

I will never be able to express the feeling I had when I held her in my arms again, there was this beautiful young woman and yet for both of us, at that moment, she was still that little 7 year old.

So much has happened in those 11 years.

Her family has expanded somewhat, she now has cousins and a little step sister, what hasn’t changed is the love for her.

I always said that for me I just wanted to see a Father and daughter reunited, seeing them together was magic and something I will never forget.

For those of you who are estranged and alienated from your grandchildren, please take strength from what has happened to us, if it can happen to us it can happen to anyone.

HOPE is everything.