“Child safety and the safeguarding of families is at the root of NACCC’s accreditation and 25 years on there is still a need to provide that temporary support for families following a difficult separation”
Hazel Hedley, (NACCC’s Chair) writes…
NACCC’s core ethos continues to be child focused. Child safety and the safeguarding of families is at the root of NACCC’s accreditation and 25 years on there is still a need – perhaps an even greater need – for child contact centres to provide that temporary support for families following a difficult separation. The rigour and detail contained within NACCC’s accreditation for both supported and supervised contact – achieved by so many centres is testament to the continued commitment that children with separated parents deserve to keep in touch as safely as possible.
NACCC has been built upon the sharing and dissemination of good practice and is privileged to have worked with so many centres over the years that have shared their experience and good practice so freely in order that other centres and of course families can benefit. Volunteers and staff running these centres have told us that they appreciate that they are part of a national network and are not working in isolation.
Family dynamics have continued to change with parents and their children facing issues that were not so prevalent 25 years ago. Parents are currently at breaking point1 with relationships under greater strain due to austerity cuts, legal aid cuts and support offered by statutory services being reduced. The accessibility of information online however can empower people to take action and not put up with problems. NACCC has been able to develop and pilot its online Safe Referral System and is increasingly able to share and disseminate research findings, government policy and good practice relating to the family and child development. This hopefully helps centres as they adapt to new challenges and issues that families bring.
The voluntary sector continues to have a vital role in supporting families in this time of uncertainty and charities and organisations meeting these needs face the challenge to remain sustainable in a climate of reduced funding. NACCC as a charity is only too aware of these financial pressures and, as in past years, its Trustees and Chief Executive are actively seeking funds and recognition to enable the essential work to continue.
Hazel Hedley, Chair of NACCC
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1 Relationship Distress Monitor. Estimating levels of adult couple relationship distress across the UK Dr Isaac Sserwanja & Dr David Marjoribanks (Relate, May 2016)
