“Seeing the smiling faces of children meeting their non-resident parent – that’s what makes it worthwhile.”
That was the experience of one of the volunteers at the Reading Child Contact Centre, in Orts Road, Reading, but their thoughts would be shared by many of the team.
A Child Contact Centre gives children whose parents have separated the opportunity to meet their non-resident parent in a safe environment. The children are brought to one entrance and the contact parent comes in by a different route.
One of the volunteers leads the child through to see their dad or mum.
In the hall they find comfortable seating laid out and a selection of toys and craft materials they can use, and in fine weather there is an extensive outdoor play area.
When relationships break apart tensions and difficult feelings are never far away.
The priority is the welfare of the children. Enabling this contact to happen in a safe way is sensitive work.
The teams of volunteers do regular training.
The national body, NACCC, sets rigorous standards and the Centre is inspected every three years to renew its accreditation.
The Centre was started by St John and St Stephen’s church more than 30 ago and for all that time has been staffed entirely by volunteers.
As well as church members, many of these helpers are drawn from other parts of the local community. The Centre is now an independent small charity, funded mainly by a grant from the Ministry of Justice.
Sessions are run on two Sunday afternoons a month, using the church premises and the adjoining St John’s School.
We welcome new volunteers with the necessary sensitivity and willingness to be trained. Go to our Reading Child Contact Centre website for details of what is involved and how to apply.
Helping children is always a privilege and an investment for the long term.
Richard Bainbridge, Chair of Trustees of St John and St Stephen’s Child Contact Centre, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Reading
