Brian, Co-ordinator at Westwood House Child Contact Centre in Congleton has shared how they’ve gone over and above this Christmas…
With Christmas Day falling on a Saturday this year, we took the decision to offer contact to any family who wanted to give the chance of Christmas Day contact for their children with their other parent. We had never done this before so were interested in how the families may respond. One of our families took up the offer with both parents in full support. They were both very positive in support of their daughters and this was exactly what we always want to see from parents using the centre any time of the year. I had previously put the idea out to our volunteer team and three of our youngest team members were very keen to come in on Christmas morning with me as Coordinator. They helped to make it a special day for the family and also for our centre.
“As a result, a nine-year-old girl and her five-year-old sister enjoyed a very happy hour and a half with their father. They were able to exchange Christmas presents and have a merry Christmas morning together. Dad was a very happy man who said he was grateful to the Centre, making a £20 donation and presenting boxes of sweets to the volunteers. One of the team sat with mum in a separate room, as the parents do not meet, and was able to chat and enjoy a coffee and mince pie together. She expressed her thanks and support of the contact. This family was a recent referral to the centre so this was excellent early progress. Two very excited and happy sisters who were a little too excited to speak with the team.”
“It will be some years before Christmas day falls on as Saturday again, but we will consider doing it again.”
