WELCOME TO THE ENGLEFIELD GREEN CHILD CONTACT CENTRE 

What is a Contact Centre?

The Centre provides facilities for children to meet with the parent with whom they no longer live due to family break down. The aim is to provide a warm, friendly, toy-filled neutral meeting place where contact can take place during what can be a very emotional period.

The Englefield Green Child contact Centre is based at The Village Centre, Victoria Street, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0QX. You can access the centre via train at Egham and either take a short walk or the bus up the hill to Englefield Green.

When is it open?

We are open on the first and third Saturday of every month, from 2pm till 4pm.

Is there a charge for our service?

We make no charge for any of our services at the Contact Centre.

Why is it needed?

Research consistently shows that children generally cope better with the separation of their parents if contact with both of them is maintained. Unfortunately, many children whose parents’ relationship has broken down lose contact with the non-resident parent within two years. We help the children keep in touch with both parents.

How can the Centre Help?

The Centre helps to ease initial contact at a difficult period for the families. Frequently there are court proceedings in progress to determine the amount of contact. Many parents find that they can relax a little and work better together and can make their own arrangements for further contact between their child(ren) and the visiting parent. In some situations the visiting parent may have nowhere suitable to take the child(ren). Grandparents may also use the Centre. Some families use the Centre as a drop off and collection point, which is called a Handover.

Every child has the right to the love and support of both parents after separation or divorce, wherever that is possible. Our aim is to enable children to keep in touch with their contact parent in a safe, pleasant, informal atmosphere and be helped through a difficult time in their lives. We know it is sometimes difficult for the parent with whom children live with to relax and feel happy about leaving them with the other parent. However, we assure parents that the child’s safety and happiness are our highest priority. We know it can be a tense time for everyone. Give it a few weeks before making a judgement. We are a stepping stone to more permanent arrangements. We are here to make a potentially difficult experience run smoothly. We are often able to help contact to progress, but please remember, we are not mediators, counsellors or advisers! We ask both parents to put the past aside and to help to make the time at our Child Centre a happy and rewarding time for their children.

How do I apply to attend the Contact Centre?

We ask all families to complete a referral form and attend a pre-visit meeting prior to attending the contact centre. We need a little background information on your circumstances to ensure that we can help you, and once that is received both parties will be invited in for a separate meeting. This is a chance for you to see where contact is going to take place and also for you to understand how the sessions run – it’s also a good opportunity for you to ask questions and talk through any anxieties you may have about attending the sessions.

Please contact our administrator on coordinator@villagecentre.org.uk or call 01784 471110 / 07749 103506 to check availability at our sessions. 

You can download your Referral Form here:

Referral form and Guidelines

We are always looking for new volunteers at our Contact Centre – Would you like to get involved?

Volunteers keep a register of attendance, provide refreshments; help children and parents settle in 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 job 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 in contributing to children rebuilding their relationship, with the parent whom they no longer live with.

If you would like more information on how to volunteer at our centre, please email coordinator@villagecentre.org.uk or call 01784 471110