Registered Charity No. 1079260		 FAMILY
CENTRE
Telephone/Fax: (01255) 688700
email: amecc@talk21.com
Working to change the lives of children in contested contact.

We are a non-gender, non-profit making voluntary organisation
 
Some of our Aims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 To help support and inform those who are at various stages (before, during and after) contested contact issues.
Rights of the Child: to have their views and wishes  listened to, and respected as a valid view point, when involved in any type of court case which can or will shape their future.
To promote awareness about the problems faced by all parties especially the children in contested contact proceedings.
To highlight the need for all professionals to be trained in areas of domestic violence/abuse and contested contact issues, when dealing with children.
To take referrals from other organisations and to refer to other suitable organisations.
To work with other organisations.  

We offer as safe, relaxed, caring and homely environment where children and young people can come and interact with absent parents or other family members.  We offer a neutral venue.
Toys, games, books and items for both young children and young people are available.

No volunteers will undertake supervision of children and/or families using our Centre.  Al staff have been hand picked by a panel of people and we do our very best to ensure a first class service to the children. We do value volunteers who will be working in other parts of the Centre.

PLEASE NOTE THAT CCTV CAMERAS ARE IN USE IN THE AMECC FAMILY CENTRE AT ALL TIMES.  THE FOOTAGE REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF AMECC.

Visits to the Centre are arranged BEFORE contact sessions take place.  We aim to ask the same supervisor to befriend the same children for each session.

WE WILL OFFER WRITTEN REPORTS ON CONTACT SESSIONS FOR THE COURTS/OFFICERS BY WRITTEN REQUEST. However, it would be on behalf of the children involved.

We have a code of practice,  policy and complaints procedure.  Details available on request.
Why there is a need to highlight the problems of contested contact for the Children

 

 

 

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 The Children Act 1989, as we see it, allows for, (if there is such a thing), a normal divorce.  Each party, i.e. the Parents, agree to things with regard to their children.  This of course must be accepted as being the best thing for the children. Any reasonable thinking person would agree.  However we do not live in ideal world and not everything will fit into a nice neat box.  This is where the Children's Act 1989 falls short. It does not protect the children involved in domestic violence and/or abuse. The Children Act 1989 includes a principle of no order unless it is of positive benefit to the child, yet in the vast majority of cases s.8 orders are granted, even when extreme violence is involved or even sexual/emotional abuse.  Children of all ages are being forced into contact with Parents  who have abused them.  Can you imagine how it must feel for a child to be faced with the person who has treated them  in this way?  If this was happening to adults people would be up in arms!
This cannot be in our children's best interests.  There is a presumption in law that it is always best for a child of separated parents to have contact with both parents however they have behaved towards each other or the children.  Society must protect children in every way it can.
Our children have a human right to be heard and to be treated fairly. In the Court system both Parents should be treated with respect by the judges and legal profession.  Al children should have their say and be listened to and their view point be accepted as valid.  All information gathered in a case should be taken on video, this way there can be no misunderstandings on anyone's part.
The cases take too long, no shorter than one year.  This puts a terrible strain on normal day-to-day activities, and in many cases causes illness, under achieving at school etc to the children involved.
How you can help

 

 

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 AMECC was formed to fill the gap that exists at the moment.  There are several women only groups and several men only groups, however AMECC is a non gender group.
The Committee of AMECC is made up of both male and female, we also have professionals who advise and work with us.  Most of the Committee have been through contested contact themselves.
AMECC is affiliated to Tendring CVS and members of Colchester Inter-Agency Domestic Violence Forum and North East Essex Care Alliance, (Children and Families, SIG).
We need your help by getting involved and telling others about how AMECC can help them if they are in contested contact.
Do you want to become a member of AMECC?
Do you have any ideas for funding?
Please contact us and ask for support/information.
Tips and Information

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 The first step must be to look for a solicitor.  Look for one who is a member of the SFLA.  Shop around and find one who will listen to what you are saying.  Ask as many questions as you want to help you decide if they will act in your child/ren's best interest, or merely just going along with the guidelines of the Courts.  Prepare a list of questions to ask before you go.  If possible take someone with you who can take notes.  Be assertive, state your views and what you want for your child/ren. Make sure the solicitor understands what your child/ren want too!
How it works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 A Referral for Contact usually, but not always, will come through Social Services, solicitors, Doctors, Courts, The Family Court Welfare Service, Schools and Police Service, etc.,   We do accept some self referrals from Families.  Contact the Centre for more details.
We then request address and some other information.  For example we may well ask when the absent parent last saw the child/ren.
We ask both Parents to agree that they will:
a). Tell us if they move addresses.
b). Allow us to open and keep a copy of letters etc. sent each way, I.E. from the absence Parent to the child/ren, then from the child/ren back to the absent Parent.  We need to keep copies to help in case of any disputes.
Once all the papers have been received and signed by all parties, a letter box number will be provided to those involved. 
Example:
Absent Parent writes to child/ren and sends it on to the AMECC Family Centre, using the letterbox number provided.  The staff take a copy of the letter and a note of any other items sent. The items are then sent on to the child/ren.  The same process is used when the child/ren send letters and any other items via the same letterbox number to the absent Parent.
The number of times the box number is used will depend on the parties involved.  Sometimes this is a Court Order, other times it may be agreed through Solicitors.  Either way the Centre puts no restrictions on the number of times the box number. However as the usual number of times for indirect contact is eight in one year (sixteen times both ways), our figures relate to that amount.
Costings We make charges for some of our services.  Please contact the Centre for more details.
Contact

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 INDIRECT CONTACT
Letters, cards and gifts, an agreed amount of times each year.
Please note: This service  offers very strict codes of confidentiality, no information will be given to a third party.

OBSERVED CONTACT
Children and young people who use this service are deemed at low risk from ANY HARM.  Several families share a given area within the Centre and are supervised by several members of staff.

SUPERVISED CONTACT
The Centre has two supervised contact rooms, one on each floor.  This service is for children and young people deemed at high  risk from ANY HARM.  At every session children and young people are superviced by at least two supervisors.  Each case will be taken on it's own merit.  No child or young person will be left unsupervised.

THE AMECC FAMILY CENTRE WILL ALSO BE OFFERING OTHER SERVICES
Training on Child development and parenting skills, Counselling services etc.

Workshops for other organisations.  We wish to encourage legal surgeries and voluntary groups to use the Centre.

If you feel that we can offer a service to the family that we do not already offer, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

AMECC Family Centre  149A Old Road Clacton-on-Sea Essex  CO15 3AU
Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Times vary.  Please contact the Centre for up to date times.  WE ARE CLOSED FOR CONTACT SESSIONS ON EVERY MONDAY, BUT OPEN FOR TRAINING, WORKSHOPS ETC.

Tel:/Fax: (01255) 688700

email: amecc.amecc@talk21.com                           Website: amecc.demon.co.uk
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