Child contact centres provide a safe space for children to maintain relationships with both parents after separation. Offering supervised and supported contact, they help families in high-conflict situations and cases involving alienation. Heather Urquart and Bridget Giltinane from Cambridge & Ely Child Contact Centres bring expertise in mediation, family law, and child welfare, ensuring effective support for contact arrangements.
Family mediation and support services play a vital role in helping children maintain relationships with both parents after separation. One of the most important aspects of this is the use of contact centres, which provide a safe and supportive environment for children and parents. This Lunch and Learn session will explore the work of contact centres, with a focus on both supervised and supported contact, and the challenges involved.
Join Heather Urquart, Secretary and volunteer at the Cambridge and Ely Child Contact Centres, and Bridget Giltinane, Chair and volunteer at Cambridge & Ely Child Contact Centres, as they share their wealth of experience in these vital services. Bridget, who is also a solicitor for Smith May in Cambridge, will co-present alongside Heather, bringing additional legal and practical perspectives to the discussion. Together, they will examine the differences between supported and supervised contact, the role of contact centres in high-conflict situations, and the complexities of working with families in difficult circumstances.
Heather Urquart has extensive experience working in both supervised and supported contact centres, with a long history in high-conflict family work, including alienation cases. She is a passionate volunteer and Secretary at the Cambridge and Ely Child Contact Centres, where she has helped families navigate challenging situations. Heather’s previous work as an Independent Social Worker (ISW) has given her invaluable experience in handling difficult family dynamics and providing essential support to children and parents in conflict.
Bridget Giltinane is the Chair of Cambridge & Ely Child Contact Centres and a dedicated volunteer in supporting families through these services. She also works as a solicitor for Smith May in Cambridge, bringing legal expertise and insight into the practical implications of family law on contact arrangements. Bridget’s combined legal and volunteer experience allows her to offer a unique perspective on how contact centres operate within the wider family law system.
This session is ideal for mediators, family law professionals, and those involved in supporting separated families, particularly where contact is a concern. The expertise of Heather and Bridget will be valuable to anyone working with children in high-conflict situations or those looking to better understand the role of contact centres in family mediation.