Daniel is a young father of his 4yr old daughter. He works full time  for  the  local  authority  and  has  not  only  been  the  main  parent  in his daughters  life  but  also  provided  her  mother  with  maintenance  and  additional support  after  their  relationship  broke  down. 

Last year the child's mother met and began a relationship with a man who has a long list of Domestic Violence against previous partners, that is a person that poses risk to children due to a sexual offence, and has a record of serious assaults, criminal damage and Motorcycle theft.

Mother also has displayed offending behaviour and continuously places her daughter at risk. She admitted breaching a court order by allowing further contact with her partner and her daughter but was just told by a stand in judge that she was an 'idiot'. Since then she seems to believe that she does not have to adhere to any of her obligations as a parent in keeping her daughter safe.

Social care have been involved, however due to Daniel taking this to the Courts as any protective parent would, the social care department have decided that it is a private law matter and they have no duty of care or protection to the four year old. This is in direct contravenence  to  Section  47  of  the  Children  Act  1989.

Daniel initially employed a solicitor but after the first hearing he was told it would cost him £5,000 per day for his solicitor to attend court.

Daniel could not afford this. A family friend, who is an experienced social worker and team manager in child protection has since tried to assist him by acting as a Mackenzie Friend, in Court. This is someone who can sit with Daniel, advise him but not address the Court directly. Daniel however like many honest people is overwhelmed in the court setting. He is not able to make himself heard and is nervous of the Judge. Mother's solicitor has I believe played upon this weakness.

Daniel has now found a very good and experienced solicitor who is prepared to aid him, at a much reduced rate as she can see how much this child needs protecting from harm. 

The  problem  is  that  this  case  has  not  only  placed  Daniel  into near  insolvency,  but  also  the  paternal  grand  parents,  who  have  now  used  up  all  of  their  reserves,  to  the  point  their  home  is  now  at  risk. 

There  is  no  public  aid  for  any  parent  in  Daniel's  position.  If  he  was  in  receipt  of  certain  benefits  he  may  get  legal  aid,  but  because  he  works  he  cannot.  He  is  trying  to  go  for  full residency  of  his  daughter,  which  is  what  any  parent  would  try  to do  in  these  circumstances.  His  only  option  now,  one  that  he  refused  to  consider  until  this  being  his  absolute  last  resort  is  to  plead  with  people,  friends  and  strangers  to  help  in  any  way  they  can  to  enable  him  to  find  the  money  to  employ  the  solicitor.  The  Solicitor  is  confident  that  not  only  will  she  be  able  to  show  how  important  for  this  little  girls  future  it  is  for  the  Court  to  grant  an  order  for  her  to  remain  in  her  fathers  care,  but  also  to  display  how  Social  Care  and  the  current  system  that  should  be  protecting  children  has  failed  this  four  year  old  child.  So  Please  please  if  you  are  in  a  position  to  give, do so. I thank you in advance, as this child is my granddaughter,  and  is  my  purpose  in  life. 

Please share with all your contacts as he only has until Wednesday to raise these funds.

Thank  you

Catherine