Maggie Mellon
Maggie Mellon (CQSW, MSc, Dip Child Protection)
I am social worker with many years’experience in both Scotland and England. Currently Trustee of PAR, Parents Advocacy and Rights, 2016- Howard League Scotland board member 2018 – Formerly Director of Services for Children 1st and Head of Public Policy for NCH Action for Children in Scotland. I was chair of the Scottish Child Law Centre from 2009 -12, Non Exec Director NHS Health Scotland 2008-16, Vice Chair, BASW Council 2014-16, Chair of BASW Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee 2014-16, member of PEHR 2016-20
I now work independently as a consultant on social work practice and public policy. I write and speak on issues arising from my work, particularly where these affect mothers, children and families.
Maggie Mellon (CQSW, MSc, Dip Child Protection) is a social worker with many years’ experience in both Scotland and England. She has been vice chair of the British Association of Social Workers since 2014, and also chairs the Association’s Ethics and Human Rights Committee. She was formerly Director of Services for Children 1st and Head of Public Policy for NCH Action for Children in Scotland. Chair of the Scottish Child Law Centre from 2009 -12. Currently non–executive Director of NHS Health Scotland and a member of the editorial Board of Scottish Justice Matters.
Maggie now works independently as a consultant on social work practice and public policy.
Be brave and vote against the Gender Recognition Reform Bill
To Labour MSPsI hope that the court of session ruling last week has finally convinced you that it is reckless to open the path to getting a GRC to anyone who wants one? Life changing decisions which have a major impact on others should not be “simplified” (the main argument advanced for this legislation). All of the government’s disingenuous assurances that single sex spaces will be safe as “sex” is a...
No males in women’s jails – letter to Lothian MSPS
Dear Lothian MSPs I am writing to draw to your attention my objections to the SPS reinstating the shameful policy of admitting male prisoners into the female estate. My colleague and fellow constituent Lucy Hunter Blackburn has already written to you about this. “Next week, the Scottish Prison Service will introduce a policy which replaces the interim arrangements put in place following the Bryson/Graham case, and gives it more freedom to...
Be brave and vote against the Gender Recognition Reform Bill
To Labour MSPsI hope that the court of session ruling last week has finally convinced you that it is reckless to open the path to getting a GRC to anyone who wants one? Life changing decisions which have a major impact on others should not be “simplified” (the main argument advanced for this legislation). All of the government’s disingenuous assurances that single sex spaces will be safe as “sex” is a...
TROJAN HORSES – CHILDREN AND GENDER IDENTITY
I am going to say a few words about the Named Person law and the response to criticisms. Because it is relevant and there are several lessons from it.
Just as with gender identity, many people in social work said it was completely misguided to oppose the Named Person. Their argument seemed to be that the intentions of government were benevolent. There was cross party support, and the education and social work establishment were all for it. the problem was that the Named Person law called for unprecedented levels of intrusion into families’ lives and unprecedented breaches of confidentiality, authorising information-sharing about families’ lives across agencies in great and unnecessary and detail without that family’s knowledge or consent.
On the matter of empathy
The sex that is being denied a name – in the name of “empathy” On Monday, The National newspaper in Scotland published an article by Stephen Paton, one of their regular columnists “Shameful antitrans activitst lack empathy in latest attacks”. His point was that there should have been enthusiastic support for yet another Day of Trans Remembrance for all the numberless people who have allegedly died as victims of transphobia. Stephen Paton said...
No Problem? No Evidence.
Claims by Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, and Engender have been used to support the campaign for self ID of "gender". I asked for their evidence. On 16 May I sent the following letter to Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) and to Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS). I also sent a copy to the Scottish Government asking them if they had asked for the evidence before using the claims of "no problem". “Dear... I am writing on behalf of a...
Questioning transgender ideology – Briefing for Children’s Sector in Scotland.
Why the Children’s Sector should be brave and start asking serious questions about trans-ideology.
Red Flags and Crossed Bridges: why uncriticially adopting transgender theory and policies harms children
On the harmful impact of transgender theory and policies on children - speech given to For Women.Scot meeting on 31st January 2019 Thank you very much for asking me to speak tonight. I am aware that there are many women who have done more than I have and who know more than I do and I hope that we will be able to hear from all of them. (Murray Blackburn and McKenzie Consultancy and Susan Sinclair of scottish-women.com and the great work that...
Harmful impact of transgender theory and policies on children
On the harmful impact of transgender theory and policies on children – speech given to For Women.Scot meeting on 31st January 2019
Selected Comments