Family Rights Group | Parents’ Forum

GJTGU2 wrote: Mon Oct 13, 2025 11:33 am Our family have been subjecting us to domestic violence for the past 3 years.

My parents have been allowing my sister to poison me and my son for the past 3 years.

I have reported this to the police, and the police have stated that because I 'have no evidence', they have to let my parents keep my son, even though he is in danger with them.

I have reported the domestic violence to social services also, they have stated the same thing as the police, that I have no evidence, and have stated that if I want for my child to be taken away from my parents, then I have to seek legal advice.

There is no other evidence, apart from, the pain and suffering I have had since they have started poisoning us 3 years ago, and the fact that I have sought medical help upon many occasions.

I do not want for my son and I to suffer because of our family any longer, please could somebody help?

Winter25 wrote: Mon Oct 13, 2025 12:51 pm Hi GJTGU2,

I can hear how frightening this has been for you. It sounds like you’ve been living under a lot of fear and confusion for a long time, and I want to understand your situation clearly before offering advice, so I can give you something genuinely useful and safe.

Would you mind clarifying a few things for me? It will really help me to see the full picture.

About the SGO – When was the Special Guardianship Order made, and what were the main reasons given by the court or social services at the time for your parents caring for your son?

About the poisoning concerns – When did you first start noticing these symptoms in yourself and your son, and what kind of symptoms have you both experienced?

Medical investigations – Have doctors ever run blood tests or toxicology screens, or mentioned any specific substances or medical explanations?

Your sister’s involvement – You mentioned your sister is the one poisoning you. Can you explain how you know this, or what makes you believe she is the one responsible?

Current involvement of professionals – Are children’s services still in touch with you, or is the case fully closed under your parents’ care? Do you have a named social worker or GP you’ve spoken to recently about this?

Your own wellbeing – You’ve been coping with this for three years; that’s a long time under stress. Have you been offered any support for yourself, like counselling or speaking with a mental health team?

You don’t have to go into every detail if it’s upsetting, but any context you can give will help work out what practical next steps might actually make a difference for you and your son.
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For full transparency, I am not an official adviser for this forum. I am a parent who has been through a long and successful legal battle with a local authority, and I am here to offer supportive, strategic advice based on my own lived experience. The information I share is for guidance, and it is always up to each parent to decide what is right for their own situation.

Suzie, FRG Adviser wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 10:08 am

GJTGU2 wrote: Mon Oct 13, 2025 11:33 am Our family have been subjecting us to domestic violence for the past 3 years.

My parents have been allowing my sister to poison me and my son for the past 3 years.

I have reported this to the police, and the police have stated that because I 'have no evidence', they have to let my parents keep my son, even though he is in danger with them.

I have reported the domestic violence to social services also, they have stated the same thing as the police, that I have no evidence, and have stated that if I want for my child to be taken away from my parents, then I have to seek legal advice.

There is no other evidence, apart from, the pain and suffering I have had since they have started poisoning us 3 years ago, and the fact that I have sought medical help upon many occasions.

I do not want for my son and I to suffer because of our family any longer, please could somebody help?

Dear GJTGU2,

Welcome to the parents’ forum and thankyou for your post. My name is Suzie and I am the online adviser for Family Rights Group. You can click on the hyperlinks in my answer to take you to more information and advice on our website.

I am sorry to hear about this very distressing situation. It sounds like you are very worried about your son, and also about your own safety.

From the information given it sounds like your parents have parental responsibility for your son, under a special guardianship order. If this is the case then children’s services and the police are correct in advising you to seek legal advice if you would like the order to be discharged (ended). It would be best to get legal advice from the solicitor who represented you in the previous court proceedings, as they will know the details of your case well. You would need to get permission from the court to make an application to discharge the order. If the order is ended and you regain full parental responsibility for your son then you can remove him from your parents’ care.

I am sorry to hear that you feel that your concerns are not being taken seriously by the police or by children’s services. I can only advise you to continue reporting your concerns and to seek medical advice and support if you believe that either you or your son have been poisoned. Please call 999 in an emergency.

I am unclear if you have contacted adult social services but if you feel that you are a vulnerable adult and you are being abused then you can report your concerns to adult social services.

If you feel unsafe where you are living (I am unclear whether you are living in the same household as your sister and your parents) then please seek advice from the housing department or a charity such as Shelter to explore your housing options.

And finally I would encourage you to seek emotional support. If you are not living with your son then you might find it helpful to call MATCH mothers as they offer emotional support to mothers who are living apart from their children.

I hope that this is of some help. Please post again if you have any further queries or you can call our free, confidential adviceline on 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm). We also have a webchat which is currently open on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Best wishes,
Suzie

Winter25 wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 12:04 pm Hi GJTGU2,

I can see how desperate you feel to protect your son. You’ve done the right thing by continuing to raise your concerns and by seeking medical help and legal advice , both of those routes will matter if you want to challenge the SGO safely.

Because the court already made an order placing your son under your parents’ care, the only lawful way to change that is through an application to discharge the Special Guardianship Order. You’ll need:

A solicitor (ideally one who specialises in children and family law),

Some form of objective evidence of risk or harm,

And possibly permission from the court to apply, depending on your legal status in the case.

You mentioned you’re trying to get your GP’s letter, that’s a good step. If your GP delays, you could:

Ask if another doctor in the same practice can provide a short summary of your domestic abuse history just to support your legal aid application.

Show any existing hospital discharge notes or A&E records that describe the symptoms or concerns; even if they don’t mention poisoning, they demonstrate that you’ve sought help repeatedly.

At the same time, I’d strongly encourage you to get emotional and safeguarding support while you work on the legal side:

Contact Adult Social Care in your local council and say you are an adult at risk of abuse.

Call Women’s Aid or another DV service, they can help you safety-plan even while you’re gathering evidence.

Keep attending your private doctor for proper tests, written medical results carry far more weight than personal observation when courts or police are involved.

Finally, I know it’s exhausting when nobody seems to listen. Keep everything in writing and keep copies of every report, GP note, or test result you get. Those documents will matter more than anything said verbally.

Winter25 wrote: Thu Oct 23, 2025 11:35 am Hi GJTGU2,

Thank you for your update, and please do not apologise. You are dealing with an extremely serious and distressing situation, and you have every right to seek help urgently. There is nothing to apologise for. In fact, the steps you are taking show clear determination to protect your son, and that is what matters most.

What you are experiencing is not unusual in cases involving Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs). Once an SGO is made, professionals will not intervene unless you can present new, credible evidence of harm or risk that was not available during the original court proceedings. That is why they keep saying “there is no evidence”. It is not because they don’t care, it is because the law requires a high threshold to override an existing court order.

This is why the process must now be strategic and evidence-led.

Why the DV Letter Matters

To apply for legal aid to discharge an SGO, you must provide evidence that:

You are a victim of domestic abuse, or

The child is at risk of harm in the current placement.

A short letter confirming you have disclosed domestic abuse and have sought support is enough to meet the domestic violence evidence gateway for legal aid. It does not need to go into full detail or prove poisoning. The purpose is to open the legal door so a solicitor can act immediately.

Your letter from Gaddum may already be sufficient, especially when combined with confirmation from Women’s Aid after your safety planning session. You do not need to wait for a perfect document , you need a document that confirms you are seeking support as a victim of domestic abuse. That alone may unlock legal aid.

The Correct Next Steps (In Order of Priority)

1. Request the DV letter again from the GP, using clear legal wording.
For example:

“I am requesting a letter confirming I have disclosed domestic abuse in order to apply for legal aid to protect my child. This is not for clinical opinion, it is to meet the Legal Aid Agency Domestic Violence Evidence Criteria.”

If your GP delays again, ask another GP in the same practice, as you are already planning to do.

2. Your Women’s Aid safety planning session is crucial.
Ask them directly for a confirmation letter stating you have engaged with them as a victim of domestic abuse. Women’s Aid letters are accepted as valid evidence for legal aid.

3. Gather any supporting medical or safeguarding letters from your private GP, even if they are still investigating.
Evidence that you sought medical tests due to safety concerns helps demonstrate ongoing risk.

4. Once the DV evidence letter is obtained, you may be eligible for legal aid immediately.
A family law solicitor can then:

Apply to discharge the SGO, or

Apply for an emergency court order if your son is at immediate risk.

Important Clarification!

Police and social services cannot override an SGO based on concerns alone. The court is the only authority that can change your son’s placement. This is why your energy must now be focused on securing legal aid and court access, not persuading professionals verbally.

Once you have the DV letter, everything else can move forward quickly. Please update once you have that letter or after your Women’s Aid session, and I can help you with the wording to submit to legal aid and begin your application to discharge the SGO.