16 Oct 2023
The only children’s contact centre in St Albans is pleading for a volunteer administrator to come forward in order to avoid closing.
The service, run from a Scout hall on Oysterfields, facilitates non-resident parent and child meet-up sessions on the first and third Saturday of each month.
There could be a number of reasons why a contact centre is the preferred or only viable option for a mum or dad to spend time with their child and they can refer themselves to the service or a lawyer can access it on their behalf where a court order is in place.
Some use the provision for a few months and some for several years – depending on circumstance – but both parents need to be in agreement to it.
The sessions run for two hours and are manned by volunteers, providing support and a safe place for a parent and child to continue to enjoy spending time together even though they live apart.
Additionally, sometimes it provides an opportunity for siblings who do not live in the same homes to also connect.
The National Association of Children’s Contact Centre accredited St Albans Child Contact Centre was set up by The Mothers’ Union in 2008. The NACCC is the only charity in the UK dedicated to child contact.
The centre needs an administrator to take referrals and liaise with parents to arrange bookings – there is no face-to-face session work obligation.
There are only five centres in the whole of Hertfordshire – so parents come from all over the county.
Volunteer co-ordinator Chrystalla Spire said: “Our service provided in this little corner of St Albans helps to keep children in touch with the parent that they don’t see. This is vital for the people who use our service otherwise they would have no other way of meeting up.
“We chat to the parents, offer refreshments – a judgement-free zone. They play games, there’s a table tennis table, and arts and crafts. We even stayed open during the pandemic.
“If you are able to help us please get in contact at info@stalbanschildcontactcentre.org.uk”
