Why Use a Child Contact Centre?
Why use a Child Contact Centre?
Separating parents are not always able to trust each other enough to agree arrangements for their child (ren) to meet the parent they don’t live with (called contact). There may be anger or anxiety which makes the prospect of contact really difficult.
A Child Contact Centre is primarily for children rather than their parents; it is impartial and provides a child friendly place which has a relaxing atmosphere and gradually with repeated attendances, a child (ren) can establish or re-establish a relationship with their contact parent. As the parents build up trust and confidence in the arrangements, they often come to a stage where they are able to make their own arrangements with out needing to come to the Child Contact Centre any more.
Mostly Contact Centres are for the non
resident parent and the child to meet. However, there may be
exceptional circumstances where other family members wish to be
involved. This would only be by special agreement of both
parents in advance.
How Does it Work?
On Saturdays, our trained volunteers staff our flat at Rose Hill
Church so that this 'contact' can occur. They aren’t observing
every move parents make but stay in the background. The
volunteers pop their head round the door periodically, help when
the resident parent hands the child over to the contact parent
and can facilitate play. They offer refreshments at a minimum
charge.
What a Chesterfield child contact centre is not
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It is not a crèche – a parent must be there all the time
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It does not take sides
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It does not reveal any information about the contact except for the date and times (and any child protection issues)
© 2008 Chesterfield Child Contact Centre Registered Charity Number 1052347