The Global Association for Contact Center Best Practices & Networking

Nov 23 2011 -- A group which helps families build bridges after the fall-out from divorce and separation is looking for help itself.

The Cleveland Child Contact Centre network is a registered charity which provides children and non-resident parents with a safe environment in which to meet.

It prides itself on promoting "the emotional wellbeing of children affected by divorce and separation".

Supported contact takes place in neutral venues so children can develop and maintain positive relationships with their parents.

The centres are volunteer-run and nationally, many are part of the National Association of Contact Centres (NACC). Cleveland was part of NACC for 15 years but is now an independent charity. That means it has to find funding itself.

And with finding those funds proving increasingly difficult, it has entered the Gazette’s Wish campaign - where we share out £50,000 to good causes, depending on the number of tokens collected.

Rebecca Morgan, 24, is co-ordinator and service manager. She’s helped in contact centres since she was 11, when mum Harriet worked with them while working with the probation service.

The WRVS approached Harriet to form a Cleveland contact centre and, 14 years on, it’s still here, with regular sessions in Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Darlington.

Currently, there’s a four-strong board of trustees, which Harriet chairs, six volunteers and more than 30 families on the books.

But Rebecca, who led a Newcastle centre before coming to Teesside, admits it’s hard to fund a service of which Judge Michael Taylor, head of the family division at Teesside Combined Court, is patron.

Rebecca said: "We allow dad, mum, grandparent or whoever has contact with us to build a relationship up with their child in a safe, neutral environment where no one feels like they’re being judged.

"For the children, we organise it in a way that resembles a playgroup, with toys, an Xbox, soft play and a tuckshop. We want the kids to relax. That way, you get an honest assessment of how they are interacting with their family.

"The ultimate aim is to get parents back into society with their children so they don’t need supervised or supported access."

The Middlesbrough sessions run on Saturday mornings at the St Mary’s Centre. Send your tokens to the St Mary’s Centre, 82-90 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2RW.

Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk

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