steve maddison
Surviving 's page
Fundraising for Family Rights Group
Story
I am running the GNR again this year for the Family Rights Group partially because, like childbirth, I have clearly forgotten the trauma of last year's efforts.
However, I'm also running for them because they helped me at a time when I felt all hope was lost.
My newborn son was removed from my arms and placed into foster care against my will on a future risk of emotional harm with an ultimate plan of non-consensual adoption. The Family Rights Group were one of the charities - the other being Families In Care based in the North East - who, through their advice line, advice sheets and discussion boards, helped me, supported me, educated me, and gave me the courage to fight my case.
258 days after he was taken, my son was returned to me and has been home for two and a half years with no social work involvement.
I now write Surviving Safeguarding: A Parent's Guide To The Child Protection Process and train social workers and students nationally on the importance of working together with a family, building human relationships, exercising human kindness and believing in a person's capacity to change.
You can read more on my story here:
www.survivingsafeguarding.co.uk
In times of austerity I am not expecting vast and generous donations (though don't be put off of you fancy bunging me twenty quid). I am simply asking for donations of up to five pounds so that together we can help to support the Family Rights Group and ensure family's voices are heard in the most awful of times. I want more families to stay together where it is safe to do so, please support me to help achieve this.
I am running for my children, to make them proud, and also in the memory of Bridget Lindley, an incredible lady I had the good fortune to meet before she passed. She was a fierce advocate of "family" and I hope I can do her justice.
Please donate anything you can and I solemnly promise to update you all on the forthcoming trauma that is 13.1 miles.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
However, I'm also running for them because they helped me at a time when I felt all hope was lost.
My newborn son was removed from my arms and placed into foster care against my will on a future risk of emotional harm with an ultimate plan of non-consensual adoption. The Family Rights Group were one of the charities - the other being Families In Care based in the North East - who, through their advice line, advice sheets and discussion boards, helped me, supported me, educated me, and gave me the courage to fight my case.
258 days after he was taken, my son was returned to me and has been home for two and a half years with no social work involvement.
I now write Surviving Safeguarding: A Parent's Guide To The Child Protection Process and train social workers and students nationally on the importance of working together with a family, building human relationships, exercising human kindness and believing in a person's capacity to change.
You can read more on my story here:
www.survivingsafeguarding.co.uk
In times of austerity I am not expecting vast and generous donations (though don't be put off of you fancy bunging me twenty quid). I am simply asking for donations of up to five pounds so that together we can help to support the Family Rights Group and ensure family's voices are heard in the most awful of times. I want more families to stay together where it is safe to do so, please support me to help achieve this.
I am running for my children, to make them proud, and also in the memory of Bridget Lindley, an incredible lady I had the good fortune to meet before she passed. She was a fierce advocate of "family" and I hope I can do her justice.
Please donate anything you can and I solemnly promise to update you all on the forthcoming trauma that is 13.1 miles.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.