Child contact centre


A contact centre is a neutral place where children of separated families can enjoy contact with their non-resident parents and sometimes other family members, in a comfortable and safe environment. Child contact services are classified into two distinct categories, supported and supervised. Its primary role is to support and promote contact between those parents, grandparents, guardians and children that do not have a Residence Order.
Use of a contact centre may be ordered by a family court in cases where:
The centres are local projects, run by a range of organisations, including community groups, charities, social enterprises, companies and local authorities. The first contact centre in England opened in 1985 and the first centres in Scotland opened in 1988.
The National Association of Child Contact Centres is the supporting membership body for around 350 child contact centres and services located throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the largest in Europe. The majority of centres in Scotland are run by Relationships Scotland]. A Nottingham magistrate, Mary Lower, founded the first child contact centre for private law in 1985. She went on to form the National Association in 1991, continued her involvement as President until she died in 2017. Sir James Munby is now NACCC's President supported by two Vice Presidents and Patron - Sir Andrew McFarlane. Now an established charity and company limited by guarantee, NACCC has a board of trustees chaired by Hazel Hedley. The staff team are led by the Chief Executive, Elizabeth Coe.
Families either apply direct to go to a child contact centre direct or are referred by family solicitors, family mediators, social workers or CAFCASS officers.

Australia

Children's Contact Services are funded under the Government of Australia's "Family Relationship Services Program". The services help with handover of children and also provide supervised contact.
As of 1 February 2004 there were 35 FRSP-funded Children's Contact Services and a number of non-Australian Government funded services.

Israel

In Israel there are the largest number of contact centers per capita in the world, 84 for a population of 8 million. There are no contact centers in the non-Jewish areas.
2500 men are sent to contact centers every year, approximately 40% of all divorces.
Conditions are drastic and all forms of abuse take place with no report to the legal courts.
In Hebrew מרכז קשר.