Grandchildren’ ‘I won the right to see my

■ Alice* adored being a grandma, regularly looking after her first grandchild, Lucy, from the moment she was born. But when Alice’s daughter, Kate, found a new partner – who was very controlling – and had a second baby called Laura, Kate’s possessive partner made it clear Alice was not allowed to see her new grandchild. After trying everything, she applied for a court order to see Laura.

“The whole process took over 16 months but the judge went in my favour because I’d had contact with Laura’s sister, Lucy, right from her being a baby. The fact Laura had dyspraxia and I’d worked with children with disabilities also helped my case.”

Alice was granted access to see Laura and Lucy once a month.

“We had some wonderful times together,” says Alice.

“My advice to other grandparents is to keep sending letters, cards and gifts to the children so they know you’re out there thinking of them – courts also tend to look upon this favourably. Seek legal aid if you can and don’t give up on trying.”

* For privacy, names have been changed

Gran’s phone book

■ Child Law Advice Service (www. childlawadvice.org.uk) 0300 330 5480 - for legal advice on grandparents’ rights

■ Grandparents Plus (www.grandparentsplus.org.uk) 0300 123 7015 – for support with the emotional side of losing access to grandchildren

■ Fosterline (www.fost-erline.info) 0800 040 7675 – for grans who’ve stepped in to care for children because the parents can’t, known as’ kinship carers’ ■ Family Lives (www.familylives.org.uk) 0808 800 2222 - for relationship and general grandparenting advice