The Chair and dedicated team of volunteers at Woking Family Contact Centre were delighted to welcome Will Forster, MP for Woking, Surrey, to showcase the vital support they provide to children and families in their local community.
Established in 1997, Woking Family Contact Centre (WFCC) provides NACCC-accredited supported contact services, helping children and young people reconnect with non-resident parents and family members following separation.
Operating from United Reformed Church, Woking, the centre opens on the first and third Saturday of each month from 2pm – 4pm. It offers a safe, spacious, and welcoming environment with a selection of toys, alongside facilities including a large communal play area, separate waiting lounge and separate entrances. Families are encouraged to bring their own toys when attending, although the centre provides a selection for use.
WFCC accepts self-referrals from families in and around the Woking area, as well as referrals from solicitors, social workers, Cafcass, and the family court. In addition to providing supported family time services, the centre can also be used as a neutral location for handovers when a child has permission to be taken out for the afternoon.
During his visit, Will Forster heard how the centre has built up an enthusiastic team of volunteers who help families feel reassured and comfortable about attending. The team explained to Will how sessions are run, and how the ultimate aim is to help parents move forward by finding long-term solutions that put the needs, interests and safety of the child first.
Woking Family Contact centre volunteers, from left, Carolyn, Elizabeth, Lisa, Chair Teresa Bacon, and Chris, with MP Will Forster
Will shared insights into current work in Parliament relevant to WFCC’s mission, including reforms to family law designed to make divorce and separation less painful. These reforms will introduce more streamlined child custody proceedings, making it easier for parents to share parenting effectively, and bring improved transparency to family courts. He also discussed the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will strengthen safeguards for children and ensure no child falls through the gaps between different services.
Reflecting on the visit, WFCC Chair, Teresa Bacon said:
We had such a good two-way conversation with Will. He is a good listener and he updated us on some of the Parliamentary activities that are relevant to what we do as contact centres.
For more information about Woking Family Contact Centre, visit NACCC’s website page
Volunteers Wanted
Woking Family Contact Centre relies on the support of its volunteers and is always looking for new people to join the team. Regular volunteers typically attend for about three hours on a Saturday afternoon once every six to eight weeks. If you are interested in volunteering with WFCC, please visit their website’s Volunteering and Support page