A HELENSBURGH group set up to help children affected by the breakdown of parental relationships is nearly £400 better off thanks to a fund-raising coffee morning in the town.

A steady stream of visitors attended the Helensburgh Child Contact Centre’s event at Helensburgh Parish Church.

Set up in 2007 by a group of people from local church congregations, the centre focuses on reducing the emotional distress felt by children whose parents are going through a painful divorce or separation by enabling them to meet their non-resident parent in a safe and neutral environment.

It’s hoped that such arrangements can act as a stepping stone towards more permanent arrangements for future contact.

Manager Margaret Ashman said: “We don’t qualify for any local or national government funding at all so we have to work hard to get the funds we need to keep going.

“We have ten volunteers, most of whom have stuck by us throughout our ten years – most are church members although you don’t have to be.

“The number of cases we deal with fluctuates quite a bit – at the moment we have six, but in the past we’ve had as many as 15 live cases at once.”

Most referrals to the centre come from solicitors in the Helensburgh, Lomond and West Dunbartonshire areas through Dumbarton Sheriff Court, though social workers and other agencies can also refer cases – as can parents themselves.

The centre’s volunteers arrange supported and supervised contact, depending on the requirements of the parents and the referring agencies.

All the volunteers have received enhanced disclosure checks and have been trained to standards set by Relationships Scotland, with whom the centre is affiliated.

The centre does not provide a mediation service, though mediation is available privately through specialist solicitors or through Relationships Scotland.

Ms Ashman added: “Clearly we don’t go out looking for broken relationships. Maybe it would be a good thing if people didn’t have to use contact centres such as ours, but while they do we’ll be here to help.”

The Helensburgh centre is one of 44 child contact services across the country affiliated to Relationships Scotland.

You can find out more about the centre by emailing coordinator@helensburghcontactcentre.org.uk.