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Tomorrow, Thursday 25 March 1999 at 12.30pm the first child contact centre in Belfast will be officially opened at Knock Presbyterian Church, Belfast by Miss Eddis Nicholl, Head of Children's Services with South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust.
Throughout the UK there are about 250 of these centres while in Northern Ireland this is one of two, the other being in mid-Ulster and which was opened at the start of the year.
A joint venture run by the Presbyterian Orphan and Children's Society and Relate Family Mediation Service , the Knock Child Contact Centre is a neutral, relaxed place where parents who do not live with their children can meet their children in a warm, comfortable setting.
Separating can cause hard feelings and in many cases it is helpful for children to meet with their parents from time to time. This can be difficult and the aim of a Child Contact Centre is to make these meetings as easy as possible.
Parents wishing to use the centre will often be referred by Social Services, Solicitors or the Courts or they can arrange to use the centre themselves but before any meetings take place parents need to contact the centre organiser Muriel Orr (01232 220909) and each parent must attend individual information meetings to make the necessary arrangements.
The centre is already functioning and is open on Saturday mornings from 10 until 12 noon and is staffed by volunteers.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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