Central Belfast
Child Contact
Centre
Coordinator's Report
AGM
1st October 2018
Central Belfast Chtld Contact Centre provides a safe, friendly and neutral space
for children to meet with non resident parents and other family members in a
setting which is supportivc. welcoming and non threatening.
The aim of the contact centre is to establish or re-establish and develop contact
to a point where the centr¢ is no longer required to facilitate contact.
Some families attend only for a short time although there are a few families who
have attended for a much longer terni.
The majority of referrals to the centrc are from solicitors but during the last year
there has been an increasing number of referrals from Social Services. Any such
referrals are private law cases rather than public law.
The centre is generally busy and lively, althoucrh during the summer period,
attendance numbers usually dip. This is due in part to families being on holiday
and to contact moving beyond the centre.
The week to week work of the centre does not change greatly. There are minor
upsets and disputes but generally these can be resolved.
Since September 2017 there have been approximately 150 children referred to
the contact centre.

There are currently 74 children using the centre to have contact with mothers,
fathers, grandparents and sometimes siblings.
Two fathers travcl from England for contact once per month and one father
travels from Donegal each week for contact.
There are currently 40 volunteers at the centre.
At the beginning of the year Belfast Live promoted an article about the contact
centre needing more volunteers. The response was very encouraging and the
centre galned twelve new volunteers who we have been very pleased to
welcome as part of the team.
As always a few volunteers have stood down. Mr Billy Miskimmin has tendered
his 'retirement' from the centr¢. We will all be sad to lose Billy but thank him
Since￿lY for his many years of commitment to the contsct centre and wish him
all the best for his 'retirement'.
The centre could not ftmction without the support, skills and experience of the
volunteers and the coordinator would like to thank all of them for their
commitment to the centre and support to her throughout the year.
Juney Johnston continues to receive refeTrals and provÉde administrative support
. The coordinator wouId like to thank Juney for all her work and support.
Paul Cahoon, caretaker of Small Wonders Daycare, is in attendance each week
to organise the rooms and move furniture and equipment if required. Paul's help
is invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Norn]a Bell provides supervision for the coordinator which is excellent
professional and personal support.
The coordinator would also like to express her thanks to the Management
Committee for their support and assistance during the last year.
Margaret Yarr
October 2018