Update on Appeal - Urgent help needed

Update on this appeal here, copied below.


There has been a huge and heartwarming response to the appeal for help posted last week. 

The target was met and surpassed which is absolutely fantastic, but obviously any additional donations will still be extremely useful to help to bridge the gap while the family settles in their new country and arranges a replacement income stream. The PayPal address isHEfamily@innocent.com.

Many people sent messages with their donations saying that they wished they could give more, but this appeal has shown that little amounts really do add up and each and every donation is so gratefully received by the family. 

Our friend had this to say: "It is really important that you all know how much this collective effort means to us, both in terms of a financial cushion but also the value of the moral support which really is priceless. So a huge thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to donate. Your contribution has made, and continues to make, a massive difference to my children and our family as a whole. Thank you."

Alison Preuss 
Barbara Stark
Elaine Kirk
Gill Kilner
Karen Gallant
Lisa Amphlett
Louisa Herbs
Maire Stafford
Michelle Beeny
Neil Taylor Moore
Raquel Toney
Sheila Struthers
Susanna Matthan
Techla Wood

Urgent Help Needed

Cross posting from here.

A well-known member of the HE community and trusted friend needs our help. The person's family is facing a possible court order and they felt the need to leave the country very quickly in order to protect the children from unfounded interference based on home education as a risk factor.

A court order would prevent this family from being able to openly fight their corner; moving out of the country will give them breathing space and the chance of a fair and open opportunity to respond in safety to the unfounded allegations. Interim financial assistance, though not asked for by the family, would afford them a slight cushion as the initial relocation costs are fairly hefty and unforeseen as events have snowballed very quickly. The family is currently camping on a very limited budget with help from family and friends. They have long term plans.

We are looking to raise funds in the region of £1000. Any donation, no matter how small, is very gratefully received. We will post regular progress updates on the amount raised, but should we exceed our target, with full agreement from donors, we will put any additional funds to one side for ongoing relocation costs. The Paypal collection address is HEfamily@innocent.com and one of the people listed below will transfer all funds to the family's bank account at the end of this appeal.

We would like to point out that relocation is NOT necessarily the best or only option for families in similar circumstances. However in this situation, the multiple factors were such that the family in question strongly felt it to be the best course of action to ensure the children remained safe and protected in a loving environment. Whilst discussions about where and when to go, and how to take a more proactive stance in such situations are extremely important, we would very much appreciate it if they did not hinder this family's progress.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions, we will do our best to answer them without compromising the anonymity of this home educating family. We are most appreciative of the community's support in continuing to protect their identity.

Alison Preuss
Barbara Stark
Elaine Kirk
Gill Kilner
Karen Gallant
Lisa Amphlett
Louisa Herbs
Maire Stafford
Michelle Beeny
Neil Taylor Moore
Raquel Toney
Sheila Struthers
Susanna Matthan
Techla Wood

Please cross post on home ed lists and anywhere you think might elicit support.

Lincolnshire County Council Update

I refer specifically to the part of your reply which states:
“If a parent is refusing to engage, the LA must be entitled to presume that the
educational provision being provided at home is not suitable, unless evidence can be
provided to the contrary. Elective home education associations commonly assert that
a LA has no power to investigate whether the provision being made at home is
suitable unless they are notified of any concerns. This is clearly unsustainable as a LA
is unlikely to be able to establish such concerns unless they endeavour to investigate
that provision.”

This position is deeply offensive, shockingly ultra vires and takes a “guilty until
proven innocent” stance which goes so far beyond existing law as to be unmistakably
confrontational. It is an interpretation of the law as the LA might wish it to be, rather
than an interpretation of existing legislation; it also demonstrates a misunderstanding
or misapplication of case law, specifically Lord Justice Donaldson’s 1980 judicial
review in Phillips vs Brown – your legal department should note that this applied to a
family’s initial contact with a local authority, not to ongoing routine monitoring of
law abiding families.

Please tick either goods or services when making a donation, ticking ebay will mean they take a percentage, thanks.




More here.