Ballymena Area Childrens Contact Service
Ballymena Area Childrens Contact Service
Ballymena Area Children’s Contact Service provides a safe, neutral enviroment where the children of separated families can spend time with their absent parent, grandparent or other siblings, often when no viable alternative is available. It is a child centred environment which puts the needs of the children first.
The service runs two Child Contact Centres based in Antrim, Ballymena. They are open on Saturday mornings. The Centres provide a warm, caring and friendly atmosphere for the children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet with and enjoy quality time with their estranged parent, grandparent or other brothers and sisters. Before Child Contact Centres existed, many children had to meet their parents in public car parks or fast food outlets, which were not suitable or safe places in which to enjoy or benefit from contact There could also be conflict and tension between the parents, particularly where there has been a history of pyhsical or sexual abuse. Members of the judiciary have welcomed the introduction of Child Contact Centres and the majority of referrals come through the court system. At present 70% of families using our service, move on to more positive contact outside the centre.
Ballymena Area Children’s Contact Service is run by two part time co-ordinators,The centres are staffed by fully trained, impartial and reliable volunteers who are police checked before working in the centres. They are responsible for welcoming the families, putting out toys suitable for the children, preparing refreshments, reassuring parents, helping inexperienced parents with practical matters like nappy changing, tidying up and generally keeping an eye on how the session is going. New Volunteers are always welcome. We are affilliated locally to the Northern Ireland Network of Children's Contact Centres (NINCCC)
If you are interested in volunteering with us, simply email Nicola at contact@baccs.org.uk, or go to the website www.baccs.org.uk for further information and a video fetauring the work of our Ballymena Centre. Full training is given to all volunteers and we have a programme of ongoing training. Some of our volunteers have been with us since we opened and find the work very rewarding. We are particularly keen to attract young volunteers who are perhaps studying at College or University and are interested in a career in Social Studies or child care and are seeking to expand their knowledge base for their CV.
Services
Our centres are based at the following locations
Ballymena Contact Centre, Ballymena Methodist Church Hall, Ballymoney Road, Ballymena
Antrim Contact Centre, All Saint's Parish Hall, Railway St, Antrim
We have a very informative website at www.baccs.org.uk which contains information about our policies and a short video commissioned by the Northern Ireland Network of Children's Contact Centres and features our centre in Ballymena.
Referrals for families to attend the centre can be through
Solicitors
Courts
Social Services
Self referral
Referrals forms can be obtained by emailing the Coordinator at contact@baccs.org.uk or downloaded from the website.
Opening hours
Ballymena. Weekly Saturday morning 10.00am - 12.00pm
Antrim. WeeklySaturday morning 11.00 - 1.00pm