York Family Mediation Service (YFMS)
York Family Mediation Service is a Registered Charity that provides two sources of help and practical support for families experiencing the breakdown of relationships – mediation and support with child contact. Mediation is a process of conflict resolution, which is being used increasingly to support people going through separation and divorce. YFMS offer an independent, impartial and confidential service to couples who are splitting up or have already separated who are in conflict over arrangements. They enable parents to begin to resolve their difficulties over plans for their children’s future, resulting in lessening the inevitable trauma that is part of any divorce or separation.
Carol Etherington, Manager of the Charity, says “When their families separate, children often feel anxious and confused, and may even feel that the breakup is their fault in some way, especially when they are no longer able to spend time with one of their parents.”
York Child Contact Service (YCCS)
York Child Contact Service operates from a Supported Contact Centre in Acomb which offers a safe and welcoming environment for families that have split up and who need a neutral venue for the non-resident parent to meet up with their children to have supported contact. It is seen as a short-term solution for re-establishing contact that has broken down within separated families, and parents are encouraged to move forward to making their own contact arrangements independently of the Centre. The time for this process varies from case to case as each family’s circumstances are different, and our trained and qualified staff will assist in discussing how progress can be achieved via regular Next Steps meetings. Last year, the Contact Centre helped 55 children of all ages to re-establish contact and continue to keep in touch with their non-resident parent.
Organisational arrangements
York Child Contact Service is affiliated to the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) and works to their National Standards and guidelines. They accept referrals from solicitors and other professionals, via Court Orders or from families themselves. Sometimes separating couples have attended the Mediation Service first but parents can access the support of the Child Contact Service without having been through the mediation process. York Child Contact Centre operates every Saturday from 10.00 am to 2.30 pm and is run by a combination of paid staff and volunteers. Funding comes mainly from client fees and grants from charitable trusts. Fees are kept as low as possible so that families on even the lowest of incomes are still able to use the service.
How you can help
YCCS has significant overheads to ensure that they can remain operational:
- Employee costs for the two part-time workers who undertake all administration as well as staffing the weekly Contact Centre sessions;
- Training course costs to ensure that all of staff and volunteers are fully qualified and their training is kept up-to-date;
- Rent and running costs for our Contact Centre and associated office accommodation;
- Annual affiliation and accreditation fees;
- Resources, including toys and equipment so that our families have enjoyable activities to share with their children.
To keep this crucial service running, YCCS needs the following:
- Financial support via ongoing sponsorship from local companies or organisations – could you consider making York Child Contact Service your charity of the year?
- Other financial support in the form of one-off donations because even smaller amounts could really make a difference – please make cheques payable to ‘York Family Mediation Service’ as our umbrella organisation.
- Time – could you spare a minimum of one Saturday per month to volunteer? Because of the vulnerable nature of client families, YCCS works to Safer Recruitment procedures and prior to starting potential volunteers are required to undergo an enhanced DBS clearance and provide full contact details for two referees.
- Donations of activities and games for older children and teenagers – there are lots of toys and games that are suitable for babies and younger children, but some of the families supported have older children who need to have contact with their non-resident parent. Donations of games and activities, including electronic equipment and games consoles, which parents and older children up to the age of 18 can enjoy together.
If you can help in any of these ways, or require further information about our work, please contact:
Amy Bayliss
Manager, York Child Contact Service
Tel: 07904 586206
Email: ccc.york@googlemail.com
or
Carol Etherington
Manager, York Family Mediation Service
Tel: 01904 792151
Email: yorkfms@care4free.net
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