Who We Help
Our supported contact centre are for families who want to keep children connected with the people who love them, in a calm setting with volunteers available at all times.
We can help:
- Parents who no longer live with their child
- Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members who want to stay part of a child’s life
- Families where one or both parents would feel more comfortable with trained volunteers around during visits or handovers
- Families who would like to arrange contact themselves, without going through the court
Call:0772 195 2857
What We Do as a Supported Plus Contact Centre
In a supported contact centre, visits take place in a shared, welcoming room with other families, but every family has their own space for connection, like a table, or sofa.
Trained volunteers are there to keep things calm and comfortable, but they don’t watch every conversation or write reports. It works well when families need a neutral place to meet and feel more comfortable with the presence of a volunteer, but don’t want to put children through the stress of close observation, reports, and judgement.
Want to understand supported contact more? Read: Supervised and Supported Contact Centres: What’s the Difference?
How It Works
Getting started is straightforward. Here’s what happens from your first message to your first visit.
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Get in touch
Call, email or fill in the form above. You don’t need to explain everything at once.
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A short conversation
We’ll speak to each parent separately. We don’t take sides, but we like to hear from both parents so we can see how best we can help.
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Talk through the details
There’s a referral fee of £50 a year, covering every visit within that year. We’ll explain everything before you commit to anything.
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Your first visit
We’ll explain what to expect beforehand, so you know exactly what will happen on the day.
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Regular sessions
Visits take place on Saturday afternoons, 2pm to 4pm. Each centre has its own schedule, and we’ll confirm yours when we speak.
How We Help
Every family is different. These are some of the ways we make contact feel calm and manageable for everyone, especially the children.
Handovers
Our trained volunteers agree separate arrival and leaving times with each parent, so you never have to see each other. Your child stays with a parent throughout, and a volunteer is on hand to keep every handover calm and simple.
Planning Together
Our trained team know that separation is hard. We’ll work with each of you to find a plan for contact that suits everyone, without taking sides.
Stepping Stones
Every six weeks, we arrange a stepping stones meeting to talk through the plan, what’s working well and what the next step might be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a court order or a solicitor to attend a contact centre?
No, you do not need a court order or a solicitor to attend Shropshire Child Contact Centres. You can contact us directly, and as long as our supported contact is suitable for your situation, you can self-refer and attend.
Does the other parent need to agree?
Yes. Both parents, or the family members involved, need to agree that supported contact is right for them. We’ll speak to each of you separately and help put together a plan that works for everyone. For example, some parents are happy for their child to spend time with the other parent but would rather not see each other. In that case, our volunteers can arrange separate arrival and departure times, so you never have to meet. It means contact can still take place; the child enters a non-stressful situation, and parents are happier without the added emotional challenge of seeing each other.
Can grandparents or other relatives get in touch?
Yes. We welcome enquiries from any family member hoping to spend time with a child.
Do you write reports for court?
No. If you need a report, you’ll need a supervised contact provider. See the differences between supported and supervised contact centres here.
How much does it cost?
£50 a year per family. Once this is paid, parents can use the contact centre as much as they like for a year. It’s significantly cheaper than supervised contact. Some families split the cost, so it’s £25/parent.
Who will be there during visits?
During visits, three to four trained volunteers are at the contact centre the entire time. Families have their own space, like a table or a sofa so they can connect, but no one is left alone with the children. If children go outside, two volunteers are present outside, and two inside. Supported contact is a shared space, so there will be other families using the centre that day.
Can I visit the centre?
Yes, you will visit the centre before contact takes place. We like to meet each family for a chat at the centre before anything is confirmed. You’ll see exactly where the centre is, what it looks like, get a feel for it, and meet our lovely volunteers, too. One of our volunteers will offer you a drink on arrival.
Get in touch and we’ll take it from there. Our centre manager will be in touch within a day or two.
Call:0772 195 2857