Volunteers add vibrancy and lifeblood to our Child Contact Centre. We encourage applications from anyone interested in supporting children in pursuit of our aims. Please email volunteering@birmccc.org.uk using our Volunteers Application Form if you wish to volunteer with Birmingham Child Contact Centre. See our Policy section to see our Volunteers, training and other policies for what we offer.
Download our Volunteers Application Form
What is a Contact Centre?
A Centre provides facilities for children to meet with the parent with whom they no longer live with, due to family break down. Its aim is to provide a warm, friendly, toy-filled neutral meeting place where contact can take place during what can be a very emotional and stressful period. Birmingham Child Contact Centre is based at Edgbaston Community Centre 40 Woodview Drive, Birmingham B15 2HU which has good travel links from main city transport hubs.
When is it open?
We are open every Saturday from 10.00 a.m. until 2 p.m. Normally two sessions are available – 10:00am to 12 p.m. and 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Volunteers attend 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after contact sessions, for room set up and tidying away.
Why is it needed?
Research consistently shows that children generally cope better with the separation of their parents if contact with both is maintained. Unfortunately, many children whose parents’ relationship has broken down lose contact with the non-resident parent within two years. We help children keep in touch with both parents especially during this critical time.
How can the Contact Centre Help?
The Centre helps to ease initial contact at a difficult period for families. Often, court proceedings are in progress to determine appropriate contact periods. Many parents find that they can relax a little and work better together and make their own arrangements for further contact between their child(ren) and the visiting parent. In some situations a visiting parent may have nowhere suitable to take the child(ren). Other family members e.g. grandparents may also use the facilities. Some families also use the Centre as a drop off and collection point.
What do the volunteers do?
Volunteers keep a register of attendance, help children and parents settle and, if appropriate, help to facilitate the relationship between children and their parents. Sometimes this is necessary when the children have not seen one parent for some time. The volunteers’ main role is to see that everything runs smoothly.
Can You Help?
Please help to make our Centre a success by becoming a volunteer. Do come and see the Centre in action. It is satisfying to see children playing happily with a parent whom they otherwise wouldn’t see. Volunteers especially benefit by gaining useful experience, when embarking on careers working with children and families. It can help when applying for jobs, but above all it can provide job satisfaction contributing to children rebuilding their relationship, with the parent whom they no longer live with.
Charities Commission No: 1174279, NACCC Candidate No 1702/2