Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / August 2007

By Sarah Kelly

A PROTEST will be held in support of a pregnant mum battling to keep
her unborn child.

The protest is to back Vanessa Brookes, of Hollywell Green, who has
pledged to contest Calderdale Council's plans to take away her child.

"I think it's great that the protest is being held," she said. "It's
good to know we're not so alone."

Mrs Brookes and her husband Martin hit the headlines last week after a
conversation they secretly taped of social services staff telling them
they would apply for their child to be taken into foster care as soon
as it was born appeared on internet site YouTube.

The couple say the council claimed there was a risk the child would be
emotionally abused.

Mrs Brookes, 34, who is registered blind, has four other children. Two
have been adopted, one is being cared for by his father and one is in
foster care.

Calderdale Council was taking action to have the recording removed
from the internet site because it believed it was against the Data
Protection Act.

It was also concerned the tape could prejudice child protection and
safeguarding outcomes.

Mrs Brookes says the protest is being staged outside Calderdale Social
Services's offices on Southgate, Elland, on Friday by family rights
group Families Anti-Social Services Inquiry Team.

She is just a few weeks from giving birth but plans to be there.

The couple have had many messages of support, she said, and they
thanked everyone who had been in touch.

Last Updated: 28 August 2007 11:06 AM

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/local-news/Backing-mum-in-bid-to.3149859.jp

Kathy