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T H E I N - H O U S EM A G A Z I N E O F

T H E N AT I O N A LA S S O C I AT I O N O F

C H I L D C O N TA C TC E N T R E S

M A T T E R S

FAMILY JUSTICE REVIEWUPDATEPage 7

NEW ‘MOLLY’S STORY’BOOK LAUNCHEDPage 10

COMING SOON - 2OYEARS CELEBRATORYAGMPage 11

MARY’S WOMAN OFSUBSTANCE AWARDPage 3

PASS IT ON

Why not leave me

on your registration desk

for staff to read?

“Education, education,education” was themantra of the lastgovernment. Judgingby recent headlines itcould be thought that“mediation,mediation, mediation”is this government’scertainly as far as thefamily justice systemis concerned.

From the 6th April 2011 onwards, any person wanting to start court proceedingsconcerning a child, divorce or separation or family finances, must considermediation first. Only when they have a certificate to say they’ve attended aMediation Information and Assessment meeting (MIAM) or are exempt becauseof a permitted exemption (usually to do with child protection or domesticviolence) will they be able to proceed.

It is important to note that mediation itself is not compulsory, but finding outabout it is. The MIAM is not necessarily free unless the parties are eligible forlegal aid and the suggested cost is £87 or £130 if both parties attend together.If the parties decide to go on to mediation then again, if one is eligible for legalaid then legal aid will pay, but if they aren’t then the cost is variable but seems tovary between £85 and £250 per hour on a sliding scale according to income.

The certificate is only valid if the mediator is authorised and their name publishedon a list on the Ministry of Justice website. Just as anyone can open a childcontact centre but only NACCC can accredit so anyone can call themselves amediator, but only those whose accreditation is recognised by the FamilyMediation Council will be authorised to undertake MIAMs.

At the end of March the Ministry of Justice published the Interim report of theFamily Justice Review. This envisages a system whereby mediation would beinvolved at every stage, from pre-proceedings onwards (as court proceedingswould become the last resort not the first port of call). It does seem to suggestfull mediation as opposed to a MIAM at least be attempted by the parties.

All this could have a considerable impact on child contact centres. In the shortterm there is an immediate potential problem for those services offering theSeparated Parenting Information Programmes (PIPS), in that currently they canonly be utilised as a contact activity once court proceedings commence. There iscurrently no mechanism for mediators to refer in to these programmes althoughthat is envisaged under the Family Justice Review. If therefore the MIAMs are assuccessful as the government hopes in diverting families from court intomediation, then referrals to PIPs could decrease significantly or may just be offsetby the increased numbers of referrals generally.

Mediation Mediation Mediation

(Continued on page 4)

2 MATTERS Summer ISSUE•2011

Check out the NACCC website – especially your members area

If you need help, advice or have ideas please let us know – at contact@naccc.org.uk

NACCC is on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Please telleveryone to 'follow us'.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/NACCCOFFICIALWhy not add your news to share with other centres?Twitter - http://twitter.com/NACCCofficialKeep up to date with the latest discussionsYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/nacccoffice

New Video pageWe have now made the NACCC video called 'Listen to theChildren' available on our website. We have also includedvideos by the Northern Ireland Network and RelationshipsScotland. Why not take a look?http://www.naccc.org.uk/about-us/video

Please keep an eye on the members pages – which areregularly updated with news both from you and for you!

Maypole Women is a UK charity supporting women, and their children, before, during andafter separation and divorce, established 2010. We offer information, advice, support andadvocacy. We specialise in how domestic abuse presents at separation, work to raise awarenessof the issues women face, and campaign for safe and fair family law and practice.www.maypole.org.uk Email: ask@maypole.org.uk

Counselling Directory provides the UK with a huge counselling support network, enablingthose in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is afree, confidential service that will hopefully encourage those in need to seek help.The website allows visitors to search for a counsellor specific to their needs, for examplecounsellors dealing with children and young people.

Family Action Family Action is a national charity and has been a leading provider ofservices to disadvantaged and socially isolated families since 1869. We work with over 45,000vulnerable families and children a year by providing practical, emotional and financial supportthrough over 100 community-based services, including Separated Parents InformationProgrammes (PIPs) across England. A further 150,000 people benefit from our educationalgrants and information service. You can find out more information about Family Action atwww.family-action.org.uk

Raising the national profile ofchild contact services

Support and resources factfile 6 (to be continued)

Child contactcentres andservices don’t

seem to have a very high profile; wehave been very aware of the need tobe more active in this area for sometime. Now, thanks to a vibrant andambitious plan from NACCC’s PR Sub-Committee – an array of activities isin progress.

Anne Dillon (barrister, mediator, andVice Chair of NACCC) who chairs thePR Sub-Committee, has alsoconvened the Expert Working Group(EWG). High profile experts in thejudiciary, family law and mediationare meeting to makerecommendations to NACCC andsubsequently governmentdepartments, agencies and referrers,on the development and

sustainability of child contact servicesover the next 5 years.

At the same time, data collectedfrom child contact services willprovide evidence for the EWG, todemonstrate our impact and theoutcomes for users of child contactservices. Previous related research,your annual statistics and any furtherrequests for info will help to considerour role, purpose and priorities basedon best evidence.

We want to make sure that we makeoptimum use of our resources andnetworks to promote NACCC andchild contact, including our onlinepresence for the media and referrers.Do let us know of family memberswith a personal story to tell. This willbe a valuable contribution.

We all feel that this is a crucial yearfor contact services in a climate ofFamily Justice Review, potential andactual changes for referrers, localauthority cuts and general austeritymeasures. We are lucky to have thesupport of influential, busy peoplewho recognise the value of bothchild contact services and NACCC andare prepared to actively support us.

Some of the results of this work willbe given at this year’s high profileAGM and Annual conference –themed ‘Raising the profile, raisingthe flag’ – celebrating 20 years ofNACCC. Do join us at the RoyalCourts of Justice, a privileged settingfor our 20th anniversary.

Yvonne Kee, Chief Executive

3MATTERSSummer ISSUE•2011

Mary Lower, NACCC’s President,and Co-ordinator of NottinghamChild Contact Centre was namedone of the 100 Women ofSubstance in March – celebratingthe centenary of InternationalWomen’s Day and recognising 100women in Nottingham who are aninspiration to others in the city.

“I thought Mary Lower would bean excellent candidate for theaward and contacted Yvonne Keeat NACCC who thought it anexcellent idea.

We didn’t tell Mary and the next Iknew about it, was a phone callfrom Mary who had obviously justfound out and identified me asone of the co-conspirators. She wassurprised and typically very modestand not convinced that she was awoman of substance (not least asshe was struggling to keep up her

weight). She asked me to be herguest at the reception.It was a sunny but chilly day inearly March when Mary and Ijoined the queue of chatteringladies on the steps of Nottingham’sCouncil House heading for theornate Chamber. The presentationswere very well organised and Marycontinued to remain modest whilstin the company of some veryequally inspirational womenincluding an Antarctic explorer, aHollywood film star and a Worldrecord breaking Balloonist. One byone they were presented with acertificate and each of them wasgiven a poster with all their photoson it; a lovely idea.

I was justifiably proud as Marywent up to the stage, especiallywhen her contribution to the livesof children in Nottingham andwider across the country was

revealed. After a brief reception,we both made our way to TrentBridge where we attended aseparate event in celebration ofWomen’s Day and we stood withover 120 women, in the sun,holding placards and celebrating avery special day.”

Lynda Clifford, Nottingham ChildContact Centre Volunteer

Fiona McCabe

Many of you will remember that atthe NACCC AGM last year wecelebrated the 25th anniversary ofthe Nottingham Centre’s opening.After telling you the story of ourorigins Alma Kemp our RotaSecretary and an ex-client told ushow it had felt to be a “customer”.The third person to speak that daywas Fiona McCabe, one of thevolunteers at Nottingham tellingus why she had joined the team

and what were her thoughts aboutcontact and the need for our work.She did in fact take a similar partin the “Brains Trust” session at thefirst “national workshop day”which resulted in theestablishment of NACCC.

What most of you will not haveknown, because Fiona didn’t wantit spread abroad, was that early inAugust 2010 she had had acancerous kidney removed, anoperation which didn’t goaccording to plan. NeverthelessFiona was determined to come andplay her part at the AGM, whichwas absolutely typical of her, butjust in case another member of ourteam had her notes to read if shefelt unable to come, but such washer determination andcommitment she joined us. A fewweeks later, after another coupleof hospital admissions, she wastold that the cancer had in factspread to all her major organs.She declined further treatment anddied at home on Sunday 10thJanuary, 2011 surrounded by herfamily, some of whom had flown

from Australia to be with her.

She is be greatly missed by us all.She had the ability, forged by herprevious work as a school teacherin her native Scotland and ahousing welfare officer forRushcliffe Borough Council inNottingham, to comfort thedistressed, understand the worriedand play a real part in everyorganisation which she joined.As an Elder of our Church, amember of our catering committeeand an Abbeyfield volunteer shewill be greatly missed. She was oneof those volunteers who we knewwould play a full part in our team– she served on the Contact CentreCommittee for some years and wassomeone who, if we rang her andsaid we were short handed shewould arrive with a smile very soonafterwards and play a full part inthe session. Our thoughts are withHugh, her husband, and her familyas they mourn her passing.

Mary Lower, NACCC Presidentand Co-ordinator Nottingham ChildContact Centre

Mary Lower – Woman of Substance Award

Mary Lower, awarded for her valuablecontribution to the lives of children acrossthe country.

Summer ISSUE•20114 MATTERS

Mediation MediationMediation(continued from page 1)

Some commentators howeverconsider that the requirement formediation to be paid for (unless aparty is legally aided) coupled withthe requirement for therespondent to agree to attendMIAM, will mean that the uptakein mediation is not significant afterall and people will prefer to havetheir day in court. Some judgeshave also expressed reservationsabout the new procedures becauseof the inability of the parties to bepolice checked by CAFCASS unlessa court application is made. Theymay therefore take a quite liberalinterpretation of the exemptionsapplying.

Despite thirty years in the legalfield, twenty years running asupported centre, and nine as aregional support manager forNACCC, I realised I knew very littleabout mediation and had had veryfew, possibly only two, knownreferrals to my centre frommediation. I sent out a basicquestionnaire to all the mediators Icame across within a two-weekperiod; although it was a verysmall survey it does seem to havebeen representative and Idiscovered many things I hadn’trealised before:

• Mediation and Counselling arevery different

• Anyone can set up as amediator

• Not all Relate offices offermediation and it is not one of

their core services• Mediators are authorised by

the Family Mediation Councilto which a number of differentmediation bodies affiliate.

• Mediators are accredited bytheir associations.

• Mediators work in both the notfor profit and commercialsectors. Solicitor mediators tendto work in commercialcompanies.

• Accreditation involves amixture of courses and practical“on the job” trainingsupervised by an accreditedmediator.

• Many people have completedthe academic side of thetraining in the past but havenot undertaken the supervisedpractice. There is currently aglut of people requiringsupervision and a lack ofsupervision places.

• At the initial meeting a riskassessment is undertaken toassess suitability, particularly tocheck whether there isdomestic abuse.

• Mediation averages about 3sessions, longer if it’s all issues.Most sessions are either 1 houror 90 minutes long.

• Some mediators are speciallytrained to see children alone.

• Mediators do not appear incourt under any circumstances

• The only reports they prepareare summaries for theparticipants and their lawyers

• Mediators do not provide legalinformation or legal advice.

I asked the respondents why theydidn’t refer to child contact centresvery often. Their replies were very

similar: usually the participants ortheir lawyers do this; we onlysignpost, as if we referred we’dhave to deal with a lot ofpaperwork and other obligationsto the legal services commission ifthey were legally aided; mediationis about the clients takingownership of their agreements sothey need to make the referral; wethought we had to pay and wecouldn’t claim this from the legalaid; we don’t get paid to completedetailed referral forms; the clientsare already attending a centrewhen they come for mediation.

I also asked how referral ratescould be improved and again thesuggestions were very similar: themediation companies need toknow where the centres are andhow to access them; local centresneed to provide their referralforms and leaflets to the mediatorsso they can give them to theirclients; invite mediators to visit thecentres so they know what theyare like. Centres seem to veryrarely refer to mediation too somaybe joint training would help.

So in summary, mediation lookslikely to be a major feature in thefamily justice system in the future.With the almost inevitable removalof legal aid from family mattersand the consequent increase in selfreferrals, centres will need tomake contact with and be knownto those organisations, particularlymediation, dealing with families indispute over contact.

Judy BirchallRegional Support Manager (North)

National Family Mediation (NFM)is a network of Family MediationServices, which offers help to thoseaffected by separation and divorce.It is the only voluntary sectorprovider of family mediation inEngland and Wales. Tel: 0300 4000 636Website: www.nfm.org.uk

Resolution is an association offamily lawyers who sign up to acode of practice, which ensuresthat they conduct themselves in aconstructive and non-confrontational way. Somemembers are also mediators.To find a Resolution mediator visitwww.resolution.org.ukor telephone 01689 820272

The Family Mediators Association(FMA), has over 300 membersthroughout England and Wales.It is a member organisation of theFamily Mediation Council (FMC),the umbrella for professionalfamily mediators.Tel: 0808 200 0033Website: www.thefma.co.uk

Contact Centre Accreditation and Re-accreditation

Thank you again to the many volunteers around the country who help children to keep valuable links with theirfamily. Warm congratulations from all the trustees and staff at NACCC to those volunteers who have served theirCentre for many years and have been awarded their bronze (3 years service), silver (5 years service), gold (10 yearsservice), platinum (15 years service) and a new diamond certificate has been launched for 20 years service.

Alkrington Child Contact Centre7 volunteers – 1 bronze, 5 silver& 1 gold = 48 yearsBallymena Area Children’s Contact Centre20 volunteers – 12 bronze, 8 silver =76 yearsBath Child Contact Centre5 volunteers – 3 diamond, 1 gold& 1 silver = 60 yearsBlackpool Fylde & Wyre Child ContactCentre22 volunteers – 3 bronze, 9 silver& 10 gold = 154 yearsCamberley & District Family Contact Centre8 volunteers – 1 bronze, 2 silver& 5 platinum = 88 yearsCowley Child Contact Centre8 volunteers – 2 bronze, 3 silver, 2 gold& 1 platinum = 56 yearsDursley & Cam Child Contact Centres5 volunteers – 5 bronze = 15 yearsFrome Child Contact Centre11 volunteer – 3 bronze, 2 silver& 6 gold = 79 yearsGood Shepherd Contact Centre17 volunteers – 2 bronze, 2 silver& 13 gold = 167 yearsHalifax Contact Centre1 volunteers – 1 bronze = 3 years

Halton Child Contact Centre3 volunteers – 1 gold & 2 platinum =35 years

Jimmy’s Contact Centre2 volunteers – 1 bronze & 1 platinum =18 years

Knock Child Contact Centre2 volunteers – 2 bronze = 6 years

Loughborough Child Contact Centre34 volunteers – 6 bronze, 9 silver,5 gold, 5 platinum & 6 diamond =239 years

Lower Earley Child Contact Centre4 volunteers – 2 gold & 2 silver =30 years

Muswell Hill Child Contact Centre1 volunteers – platinum = 20 years

Newbury Family Contact Centre1 volunteer – 1 bronze = 3 years

Norwich Family Contact Centre9 volunteers – 5 bronze, 1 silver& 3 gold = 50 years

Pudsey Child Contact Centre13 volunteers – 1 bronze & 12 silver =85 years

Redditch Child Contact Centre8 volunteers – 7 diamond, 3 gold,4 silver & 3 bronze = 169 years

Roberts Child Contact Service6 volunteers – 4 bronze, 1 silver& 1 gold = 27 years

South Bristol Child Contact Centre23 volunteers – 5 bronze, 9 silver,9 gold = 150 years

St John Ambulance Child ContactCentre – Skegness2 volunteers – 2 bronze = 6 years

St John’s Woodley Contact Centre15 volunteers – 6 bronze, 3 silver,2 gold & 4 platinum

Woking Family Contact Centre7 volunteers – 2 gold & 5 bronze =35 years

Uxbridge Child Contact Centre7 volunteer – 4 platinum, 2 gold& 1 silver = 86 years

Vale Royal Child Contact Centre2 volunteers – 2 silver= 10 years

Tarka Child Contact Centre9 volunteers – 9 bronze = 27 years

Tring Child Contact Centre11 volunteers – 3 silver & 8 gold =95 years

West Wilts Child Contact Centre6 volunteers – 2 silver, 3 gold& 1 platinum = 60 years

Going for Gold 16 Diamond certificatesawarded since last issue!

Congratulations… to all the child contact centres listed below that have achievedaccreditation since the last issue of Contact Matters. Well done!

And to those who have achieved re-accreditation success since the last issue. Well done to you!

• Wolverhampton Outreach ChildContact Centre

• Didcot Contact Centre

• North Nottingham Child ContactCentre*

• Hill Top Contact Centre*• South Cheshire Child Contact

Centre*

• Meeting Place Child ContactCentre

• Salford Child Contact Centre• Bingley Contact Centre• St Augustine’s Child Contact

Centre

• St John’s Contact Centre• St John Ambulance Child Contact

Centre – Gainsborough• St James Child Contact Centre

Many congratulations to these centres who have achieved Enhanced Accreditation

This system gives referrers and families reassurance that supervised child contact services haveshown that their service meets the national standards for supervised child contact.• The Accord Centre* • Carmarthenshire Supervised

Contact Centre List correct at time of press

Summer ISSUE•2011 MATTERS 5

* Please note that these centres’ details should have been recorded in previous issues of Contact Matters –please accept our apologies

Summer ISSUE•20116 MATTERS

Snippets

Accessibility tips bywww.pia.co.ukImproving accessibilityThere are ways in which theaccessibility of your originaldocument can be improvedwithout making a large printversion. If you’d like to make yourdocuments more accessible, hereare some helpful hints.

Text• Choose an accessible typeface

such as Univers or Arial• Avoid using capitals for

continuous text, use initialcaps and lower case letters

• Set your text to ranged left,ragged right

Contrast• If you are using a background

tint, use 30% as a maximum• Avoid pale and clashing

colours• Avoid text on a patchy

background or over anillustration

Design• Don’t cram pages - leave space

between paragraphs and lines• Use a contents list with

differentiated headings• When using illustrations, keep

the text on the left and placethe illustration on the right

• Leave sufficient space forcompleting forms

• Avoid glossy paper and lowpaper weight

• For more information, see‘Make it accessible’, RNIB’sguidance on makingpublications accessible topeople with visual impairment.

NEW! Best Practice Manual forSupervised ContactThis is now complete and can befound on the NACCC websitemembers area (look under theServices heading). It containsstandard policies, procedures,sample forms and shouldhopefully be a useful resource forNACCC’s supervised services.

NEW! Bilingual Parent and Carerleaflet

NACCC has now produced abi-lingual Welsh/English Parentand Carer leaflet, £5 for 10leaflets. See online shop forfurther details.

NACCC accredited servicesrequiredContracts for supervised contactproviders in certain parts of thecountry are now requiring thatproviders shall be a full memberof the National Association ofChild Contact Centres and complywith the National Standards forSupervised Child Contact Centres.This is excellent in terms ofmaintaining safety for childrenusing supervised services aroundthe country and improves theaccountability of NACCC’sstandards and accreditation forsupervised services. We assumethat this is the case throughoutthe country but it would be usefulto gain feedback from ourmembers and supportersregarding this issue.

Survey MonkeyNACCC is now using SurveyMonkey – an online tool thatenables us to quickly get feedbackfrom you about our services andfind out specific information – wehave already used it to analyseour statistics results and the recentfamily Justice reviewquestionnaire. You may be sentfurther questionnaires by email –many thanks for your help withthis.

NACCC Supervised conference(June 2011): Sustainability –Exploring new perspectives andservices to meet the challengesaheadTo be held at St Martin in the

Fields, Trafalgar Square, London,this conference will acknowledgethe current difficulties in the fieldof contact services time for manyservices and will be a useful forumfor sharing ideas and businessopportunities. An update willappear in the next issue ofContact Matters.

Goodwill exchange withSingapore child contact services

Duncan Gore (Senior RegionalSupport Manager) met withDr Katijah Dawood of the Societyof Moral Charities (Centre forFamily Harmony) from Singaporeon 16th May to exchangeinformation and practiceparticularly focusing on supervisedcontact. www.thkms.org.sg

Barrier BustingThe Communities and LocalGovernment department haslaunched a new website whereindividuals, charities andcommunity groups can ask forhelp in overcoming bureaucraticobstacles to their work.The Barrier Busting website aimsto help people setting up orrunning local community projectssubmit queries about regulations,such as by-laws or health andsafety rules, that hinder them intheir work.

http://barrierbusting.communities.gov.uk/

B&Q waste donation schemeLocal voluntary and communityorganisations can still apply totheir local store for materials,through the B&Q Waste DonationScheme. Waste products such asslightly damaged tins of paint,timber off-cuts, and end of rangematerials can be donated tocommunity groups, charities andschools. Contact the in-storeenvironmental champion, duty orwarehouse manager at your localB&Q.Website:http://tinyurl.com/2wccga5

Centres

Accessibility

Summer ISSUE•2011 7MATTERS

Fatherhood Institute resources(Why Dads Matter toolkits)At a time of cuts in children’sservices, when many dedicatedfather workers across the countryface losing their jobs, it might betempting for children’s services toforget dads. Our Dads IncludedToolkit for Developing Father-Inclusive Services, available now(presented as a series of 12 pull-out cards in a sturdy wallet), costsjust £15 plus postage. This keyresource outlines how to makeyour service work for dads as wellas mums – and, most importantly,for children, for whom a goodrelationship with dads is soimportant.www.fatherhoodinstitute.org0845 634 1328

A supported centre recently askedabout their insurance cover if achild was abducted from theirpremises. NACCC contactedMethodist Insurance on theirbehalf and received the followingresponse – “they were not able togive an overall opinion as they sayindividual centres will haveindividual policies linked to theirown requirements. Centres cancall Mr Tom Carter on 0161 833

7784 if they wish further advice.”Obviously those centres whoseinsurance is with companies otherthan Methodist Insurance willneed to contact their ownprovider.

The Greggs Foundation, whichhas been a major funder in theNorth East of England, now hasa regional grants programmeacross England, Scotland andWales administered byvolunteers from its shops,bakeries and offices. Smallgrants can be given to local notfor profit organisations thathelp people in need in theirlocal area. Greggs will alsoprovide Greggs (bakery)products for community eventsand activities.www.greggsfoundation.org.uk

Co-operatives UK have produced aguide to the various legalstructures which exist forvoluntary sector organisations.You can view the guide at:http://tinyurl.com/689ez9s

Value of volunteersJudy Birchall (Regional SupportManager – North) set upAltrincham Child Contact Centreand has shared her experience onthe Children’s WorkforceDevelopment Council’s ‘ShareStreet’ website explaining howvolunteers at the centre bringfamilies together. Her centre’svolunteers include professionalssuch as magistrates, social workersand insurance brokers, and aretherefore also able to contributetheir knowledge and expertise inother ways to help theorganisation to develop. Withoutthe volunteers, there would notbe a centre and so many of thesechildren would not have arelationship with these membersof their family.https://sharestreet.cwdcouncil.org.uk/CaseStudyDocument-717.aspx

Student volunteeringVolunteering England’s websitehas some useful factsheets onrecruiting student volunteers andmaking this sustainable.For more information go towww.volunteering.org.uk

Volunteering

Legal

Funding

Insurance

The Family Justice Review is areview of the Family JusticeSystem commissioned by theMinistry of Justice, theDepartment for Education, andthe Welsh Assembly Government.

It is the intention of the Reviewto improve the current Family

Justice System so that it is quicker,simpler, more cost-effective andfairer whilst continuing to protectchildren and vulnerable adultsfrom risk of harm. At present, theFamily Justice System is understrain, with a rise in the numberof cases and each case takinglonger to deal with. The cost tothe State is now around £1.5billion each year. Long andcomplicated legal processes areemotionally and financiallydraining for parents anddistressing for children. Fathersand grandparents regularly tell usthat they do not feel well servedby the current system.

The role of Family Justice Reviewis to examine the effectiveness ofthe family justice system and theoutcomes it delivers. Mostimportantly it will make

recommendations for reform.The review is:

• examining both public andprivate law cases

• exploring if better use can bemade of mediation and howbest to support contactbetween children and non-resident parents orgrandparents

• examining the processes (butnot the law) involved ingranting divorces andawarding ancillary relief, and

• looking at how the differentparts of the family justicesystem are organised andmanaged.

(continued on page 9)

Family Justice Review

8 MATTERS Summer ISSUE•2011

Special Interest Groups

Since our last update in October 2010, Knock Child Contact Centre was very pleased to have local MPNaomi Long as a speaker at their AGM and to hear her endorse the work of child contact centres.On Christmas Eve, Foyle child contact centre held a Christmas Carol Celebration between their sessions forthe contact parents. Resident parents were able to observe and the event was very successful. In February,Liz McCorkell, Coordinator of Foyle, was invited to attend Magee University Careers Convention to talk tolaw students about volunteering as a professional development opportunity. The centres in NorthernIreland have noticed a rise in interest by young volunteers eg those on law courses or social work courses orpeople wanting to get on to such courses and needing relevant work experience.

On 4 April 2011, Ann-Marie Stubbs and Judy Birchall (NACCC) came over to Northern Ireland to provide aninformation day on Supervised Contact and NACCC’s enhanced accreditation. Eleven Centres wererepresented. Of these, some centres are actively interested in providing supervised contact while others feltit was important to understand what was involved and the implications. Following the AGM of theNorthern Ireland Network of Child Contact Centres, we were very pleased that Richard Marshall(Committee member of Ballymena Area Child Contact Services) agreed to take over the role of Chair.Richard has been very involved in promoting the work of the Network in Northern Ireland, particularly withregard to the PR campaign in 2009 funded by the Department of Health and Social Services and PublicSafety.Muriel Orr on behalf of the Northern Ireland Network of Child Contact Centres

Rise in young volunteers and enhancedaccreditation focus

CEPREP now has one extra member as Germany has joined last month.In June we are holding our AGM at the principal registry in Holborn, London. I am glad to saythat we will have guests from Australia and Ireland. In addition Karen Kiernan from One Family

(Eire) will be attending and doing a presentation on her study tour to Sweden and Denmark. CharleneKelly from Relationship Scotland will be also present the work of her federation as well as presenting hernew book on Contact. The conference will be attended by delegates from France, Belgium (both Flemishand Wallone), the two Spanish delegations, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.The conference will be formally opened by Anne Dillon and Yvonne Kee will be present.Louis Ruddlesden, President of CEPREP & Regional Support Manager (South West & Wales)

Northern Ireland Network

CEPREP Update

Addressing funding and training priorities forservices in Wales

Welsh Network

Wales is a very vast and rugged area so it can be difficult for centres to get together regularly. We dohowever try to meet at least twice a year as the Welsh Network as we appreciate the support we can gainfrom each other and the chance to discuss ideas with other centres in Wales. We had a Welsh networkmeeting and NACCC training for supported contact centre co-ordinators in April and I would like to thankthose that attended and for your input into the discussions. The network needs to move forward anddevelop in order to raise the profile of Welsh centres within Wales and with the Welsh assemblyGovernment. Carol Peeke and I will be visiting the Northern Ireland Network in May to look at how theyare running and developing and will bring back new ideas and ways of developing our constitution fromthe meeting. We are hoping through the Welsh Network we can have joint training sessions, providesupport to each other, raise the profile of centres in Wales and generate funding as an all Walesorganisation.

As the Chair of the Welsh Network and Trustee for Wales with NACCC I want to ensure that all centreswithin Wales are getting the help and support they need. Therefore I am aiming to visit all centres in Walesthis year. We have 23 centres in Wales. So far I have visited 9 of them and am hoping to visit more duringMay and June. I will be in touch shortly to arrange these visits. In the meantime if any centres haveanything they wish to discuss or you would like me to address with NACCC you can email me atallanthomas23@aol.comAllan Thomas on behalf of the Welsh Network

9MATTERSSummer ISSUE•2011

It is all about “risk” in its widestsense. Practical, physical,emotional on the understandingthat no system is ever perfect andsome risk is inevitable whendealing with people

Preparation for contact (PFC) hasbeen mandatory for the last twoyears. Every family referred to achild contact centre must beassessed for risk before any contactcommences including a properlycompleted referral form, meetingswith everybody involved in thecontact, reference to reports andcourt orders and whereappropriate, contact with otheragencies.

The Judicial protocol endorsed bythe President of the Family Divisionstates “Supported contact takesplace in a variety of neutralcommunity venues where… no riskto the child or those around thechild, unmanageable by the centre,has been identified during anintake procedure.”

The PFC is used to try to establish anumber of facts and it is also anopportunity for the centre togauge the willingness of theparents to work with or againstthe centre in achieving safeenjoyable contact for the child.Some parents in person are sohostile to the notion of attendinga centre that despite the referralform showing no particular issues,the centre may decide they will betoo disruptive to the running ofthe centre or the enjoyment of theother families who will be presentthat the contact place will berefused. Likewise, a referral formthat shows issues may in fact bedue to both parties’ willingness tocooperate. Perhaps if they don’thave to meet, very worthwhile

contact can be undertaken.

Model pre visit forms are in theNACCC Guidance Manual, whichcan be used or adapted by centresas required and are available todownload from the NACCC websitemembers area.

A practical example – anautistic child needs contactwith parent who has littleexperience in dealing withthem. Centre A is a very largenoisy centre with many familiestogether in a large hall and 6teams of volunteers i.e. changeevery week. Centre B is a muchsmaller set up with smallerrooms and two coordinatorsone of whom is always on dutyand a volunteer who workswith autistic children and willgive some basic guidelines tothe others. Attending centreA may not be in the bestinterests of the child, attendingcentre B could be.

Judy Birchall, Regional SupportManager, North

Focus on preparation for contact

Family Justice Review(continued from page 7)

The aim is to produce a system,which allows families to reacheasy, simple and efficientagreements which are in the bestinterests of children whilstprotecting children andvulnerable adults from risk ofharm.

The agencies and professionalsdirectly involved in the familyjustice system are all in scope forthe Review, including courts, localauthorities, Cafcass and CAFCASSCymru, family lawyers, mediators,and the Legal ServicesCommission.

The review will also consider theirrelationship with agencies andprofessionals indirectly involved inthe family justice system such aschildren’s centres, health servicesand the voluntary sector. That ofcourse means child contactcentres.

The first stage of the review wasto carry out intensive fact-findingactivity and formal evidencehearing sessions over the summermonths. This started with a ‘callfor evidence’, which ran fromJune to September 2010. This callfor evidence stage enabled thereview to take evidence fromeveryone involved in the familyjustice system: parents andchildren, families, professionalsand representative bodies,regardless of their level ofexpertise.

Over 600 individuals andorganisations submitted evidenceto the review during, andfollowing, the call for evidence.The responses received were usedto inform the panel’s interimreport, which is now the subject ofa three-month public consultation.

NACCC was one of theorganisations that submitted aresponse to the review last year.We are now, through an

independent Expert WorkingGroup established by NACCC andcomprising among others Judiciary,barristers, solicitors and mediatorsas well as those with expertise inrunning contact centres, in theprocess of submitting a detailedresponse providing detailedevidence about the role of childcontact centres and the crucial rolethey play in the family justicesystem.

You will have seen and hopefullycompleted a questionnaire thatwas sent to all centres. The resultsof this and the data we havecollected from the annual returnswill be combined with evidencefrom questionnaires sent legalrepresentatives, Judges andmediators asking for their viewsabout child contact centres, willform the basis of our responsewhich is due on 23rd June 2011.

Mike Durrell (NACCC North WestRegional Trustee) & Anne Dillon(NACCC Vice Chair)

Following on from our Winter issue article on this subject it was felt that we should continue to raise theprofile of this important and essential part of the contact process.

10 MATTERS Summer ISSUE•2011

Since our fundraisinginitiatives took on a new paceand urgency last year, you’vebeen fantastic and havehelped us raise:

£156.85 through the AGM raffle

£75.40 through the AGMtombola

£38.25 through Charity Flowers

£118.88 by supporting the bookclub (run by the NACCCoffice)

£62.54 by recycling jewellery

£71.85 by collecting foreigncoins

£410 by supporting theNACCC Spring Fayre

Thank youto everyone who is helping raisemoney to support the work ofNACCC – it all helps – and hasparticularly supported theproduction of our new children’sbook Molly’s Story (see below).

Please continue to help inthese small but valuableways!

Recycle your toners and mobilephonesWe now can raise money byrecycling used toners and mobilephones. Please see attachedenvelope or the NACCC website forfurther details.

• No more freepost pleasePlease do not use the Freepostaddress any more – this is no longerin use as had become a drain onvaluable resources – we encourageservices to submit forms online anduse email as much as possible.

• Why not run for NACCC?

Do you know anyone who is up fora challenge and would like to raisemoney for NACCC in the RobinHood Full/Half or Mini Marathons?Seewww.experianfestivalofrunning.co.ukfor further details

• Raise money onlineNACCC has now registered withJustgiving.com. This means it ismuch easier to make a one-off donation or a regular payment tosupport NACCC. Click on theNACCC web ‘Donate Now’ button –this now links you securely to theJustGiving website.

• Thinking of doing asponsored something forNACCC?

You can now (throughJustgving.com) create your ownfundraising page for NACCC andcollecting the cash is very easy –visit the join us page to find outmore.

• Remember Gift AidGift Aid is a marvellous way ofboosting funds at no extra costto the donator! The Governmentcurrently give 28p for every £1gift aided by an individual totheir chosen charity. Do youknow of anyone, perhaps aparent who has in the past, or iscurrently using one of ourcentres, and who would like tomake a one-off or even a regulardonation? If so, why not askthem to complete the attachedGift Aid Form - and return to theNACCC office together with thedonator’s cheque – alternativelythey can donate online (seeabove).

Every little helps!Keep it up!Thank you.

Thanks for all your support! Thank you for…

New! Molly’s StoryMolly hasn’t seen her mum for some time and is getting worried.Will using a child contact centre help to solve her problem?This book in response to feedback from our services and accompanies the popular Ben’sand Lily’s Story books written by Linda Wyon (Bath Child Contact Centre) and has beenwritten for parents and children to read together before using a supported child contactcentre.“This story deals sensitively with the experiences of achild whose mum has had to move away from the familyand how the child contact centre provides a way forwardfor them to spend time together again.

Our grateful thanks go to Linda Wyon for her immensecommitment to this project and to Angela Goodman forher beautiful illustrations”.Yvonne Kee, Chief Executive, NACCC

The books will be launched at BathChild Contact Centre’s 20thanniversary celebration on Tuesday12th July. The books can also beviewed on the NACCC website andordered via the online shop.

Cost £2.95 Non-members/£2.50 members

collecting stamps buying flowers shopping online collecting foreign coinsreading books keep on collecting stamps keep on buying flowers keep onshopping online keep on collecting keep on buying keep on shopping

11MATTERSSummer ISSUE•2011

Good ideas, funding ideas to share? Please let us know

Valerie Collardreceiving thecheque fromAngela at theAga shop.

One of ourvolunteersworks in the

office at Aga in Telford. The staffin the Aga shop raise money forcharity and decided to donate this£500 cheque to the Shropshirecentres.Valerie CollardShropshire Child Contact Centres

Volunteer Dennis Bull receiving his 15-yearlong-service certificate from President JuneHarrison.

The Derby Child Contact Centrerecently held its 20th BirthdayParty at St Mary’s Parish Centre,attended by past and presentvolunteers and supporters.The Chairman, Tony Wilmore, wasdelighted to welcome the centre’spatron, His Honour Judge Orrell,and its President, June Harrison,whose proposal to Derby City

Centre Churches in 1990 resulted inthe establishment of the centre inQueens Hall.Geraldine Galloway, Derby ChildContact Centre

Torquay BBC reportand fundraising

Torquay Child Contact Centrefeatured on the BBC Spotlightprogramme on Monday, 2 March2011. This report highlighted theincrease in numbers butunfortunately did not showanything about our centre, thevolunteers or the fundraising. Itdoes seem to have raisedawareness of contact centresgenerally however.

This report was set up by a localfirm of Solicitors who have beenvery supportive of our fundraisingevents over the past two years.They held a sponsored walk for uslast summer and raised £1,575.Following the increase of referralsto the centre over the past twoyears or so, when our waiting listincreased to three months plus, weobtained planning permission toextend our single room andbuilders’ quotes were obtained.We accepted one of £60K and havebeen busy ever since runningvarious fundraising events.

This year we were so fortunate tobe supported by Yvonne Kee andLouis Ruddleston in an application

to the George Barnes Fund and weregranted £5K; we ran a Table Top salein February which raised £450; a localgroup of singers put on a GalaConcert of Song for us last Saturdaywhen a brilliant £1,780 was raisedand we had good news this weekfrom a local Family Trust who grantedus £5K. We are now getting veryexcited about being close to ourtarget and are continuing to searchfor further ideas for events.Susan Norman, Co-ordinator, TorquayChild Contact Centre

Chesterfield MP visit

Ruth Dornan, team leader and committeemember ; Linda Moore, volunteer & chair; TobyPerkins, MP, Yvonne Kee NACCC CEO, SusanGoodwin, volunteer & coordinator; MikeDornan, NACCC Chair.

Toby Perkins (MP for Chesterfield andShadow Minister for Children YoungPeople & Families) visited ChesterfieldChild Contact Centre. It was a verysuccessful event, also attended byMike Dornan (NACCC Chair) andYvonne Kee (NACCC CEO) and helpedto raise the profile of the service inChesterfield.Linda Moore, Chesterfield ChildContact Centre

Child contact centres’ share corner

Coming soon:

NACCC AGM & Conference 2011Royal Courts of Justice, London • Saturday 8th October 2011

The programme is still to be finalised and subject to changebut we are pleased to announce:

‘The importance of child contact centres in the family justice system’(Sir Nicholas Wall, President of the Family Division and NACCC Patron)

‘The Family Justice Review, and what it means to supported and supervised contact centres’

‘Child contact and post-separation violence in the context of domestic violence experience of South Asian andAfro-Caribbean women and children’ (Dr Ravi Thiara, Principal Research Fellow, University of Warwick)

There will be opportunities to put questions to the panel and a choice of workshops in the afternoon.Official correspondence relating to the AGM and Conference will be sent out in July. Our website will includemoney saving ideas for transport/hotels etc to try and help as many of you to attend as possible.

Celebrate20 yearsof NACCC

contact matters is the twice yearly magazine of the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC).Views expressed in contact matters are not necessarily those of the NACCC and publication does not imply endorsement.

© Copyright NACCC Publications 2011. (NACCC Child Contact Centres exempt).

Registered Charity No. 1078636 Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3886023 (Registered in England and Wales)

National Association of Child Contact Centres, 1 Heritage Mews, High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HNTel: 0845 4500 280, 0115 948 4557* www.naccc.org.uk *cheaper from your mobile

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‘CONTACT MATTERS’ EDITORIAL STAFF MAINTAIN THE RIGHT TO EDIT LETTERS PUBLISHED.

THE NEXT COPY DATE FOR ARTICLES IS 30 SEPTEMBER 2011.

StaffChief Executive: Yvonne Kee BA Hons, MAykee@naccc.org.uk F/T

Field team – Regional Support ManagersRole to advise, guide and support Child Contact Centres andassist through the accreditation or re-accreditation process(telephone numbers are available from the NACCC office).

Senior Regional Support Manager (Central):Duncan Gored.gore@naccc.org.uk F/T

Regional Support Manager (North & Wales):Judy Birchallj.birchall@naccc.org.uk F/T

Regional Support Manager (South West, Wales& Channel Islands): Louis Ruddlesdenl.ruddlesden@naccc.org.ukF/T (not Mon)

Regional Support Manager(Greater London & South East): Ann-Marie Stubbsam.stubbs@naccc.org.ukP/T Mon, Tues & Weds 9-5, Thurs 11.30-5.30on flexible basis

Support OfficersEmployed on sessional basis to work with and supportcentres on accreditation, re-accreditation and new centresupport. Contact your regional support manager to accessa local support officer.North England, North Wales & Northern Ireland:Fiona Jarvie, Peter Nowland, Sue LightbownCentral England: Russell CollardWales: Rebecca KingSouth England & South Wales: Charmaine Bryant,Phil Doughty, Margaret HartKent and South East: Linda UnderwoodGreater London: Sam Burch, Amy Woods

Accreditation AssessorsEmployed on sessional basis to work with and supportcentres on achieving enhanced accreditation. Contact LouisRuddlesden to access an accreditation assessor.

David Angus Ann Green Ann-Marie StubbsTracey Brewer Carol Peeke Jill ValentiDiane Cain Joanne StewartSue Culligan

Office teamOffice Administrator/PA to the Chief Executive:Katie Lockett(finance, orders, infoline)k.locket@naccc.org.uk F/T

Administrator: Judith Mewse(Infoline, membership, CRB)j.mewse@naccc.org.ukP/T Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9.30-3

Administrator: Donna Moreland(AGM, CRB, membership, training)d.moreland@naccc.org.ukP/T Mon-Thurs 10-3

Finance Officer: Alan Tarra.tarr@naccc.org.ukP/T Tues, Thurs 9-5, Fri 9-12

Project Administrator: Wendy Hannah(IT, website, publications)w.hannah@naccc.org.ukP/T Mon, Tues, Weds 8.30-5

Project Administrator: Ruth Miles(publications, statistics, IT)r.miles@naccc.org.ukP/T Tues, Weds, Fri 9-5

VolunteersCraig TrembirthJackie Ward (jward@naccc.org.uk)

PatronsSir Nicholas Wall – President of theFamily DivisionLord Alton of Liverpool

PresidentMrs Frances Mary Lower MBE

Vice PresidentsMrs Prudence BrayMr Ian DanielsThe Hon Mr Justice HedleyMrs Pauline Lowe

TrusteesChair: Dr Mike DornanVice Chair: Anne DillonHonorary Treasurer: Sue EnglandCompany Secretary: Claire Bell

Regional TrusteesNorth East: Hazel HedleyNorth West: Michael DurellWales: Allan ThomasCentral: Amanda PageEast: Samantha EwingSouth East: Vicky WestSouth West: position vacantLondon: position vacantNorthern Ireland: Muriel Orr

General Trustee: Fred DevereuxGeneral Trustee: Adrian Cullen

The NACCC Team

Member of CEPREP (European Confederationof child-Family Contact Centres)

NACCC office number 0845 4500 280, 0115 948 4557**cheaper from your mobile