© Copyright 2025 Neutral Ground - Registered Charity Number 1088970
Neutral Ground is dedicated to providing a welcoming, secure space where parents and children who live apart can spend meaningful time together. Our child contact centre is designed to foster positive relationships in a neutral and friendly environment. The service is intended as a stepping stone, helping families transition to independent arrangements for contact.
We invite all families for a pre-contact visit to familiarize themselves with the centre and address any questions before regular visits begin. During contact, trained volunteers are available to ensure visits run smoothly, though they remain impartial and do not provide advice or supervision.
To maintain a positive and safe experience for all, we have clear procedures for arrival, use of spaces, and expectations of behavior. Our centre offers a variety of activities, including toys, crafts, and outdoor play areas, alongside a coffee bar for light refreshments.
Our role as a Child Contact Centre, offering a secure and welcoming environment for children to reconnect with parents they do not live with, fostering positive family relationships.
• All visitors are checked in upon arrival and checked out when they leave.
• Children and their escort use a dedicated entrance near the library, while the parent having contact enters through the main gate.
• Please refrain from bringing extra adults or children unless prior approval has been obtained from the coordinator.
• Punctuality is essential. If you are running late or unable to attend, please inform both your former partner and us through a phone message. We are not responsible for notifying your former partner.
• A small waiting room is available for resident parents or carers, who should remain there and not enter other areas of the centre. Assistance can be requested using the bell provided.
• Exit doors are alarmed and should only be opened by a staff member.
• The contact parent and children can enjoy the lounge, garden, and coffee bar areas with toys, games, books, and crafts available. The large garden offers bikes, a sandpit, and more. A quiet lounge with DVDs, board games, and books is also available. Parents are welcome to bring additional activities for their children.
• Light snacks and drinks are available for purchase at the café.
• Contact will not occur if any person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Smoking is prohibited indoors and in the garden.
• Children are to remain on the premises unless agreed upon by both parents and the coordinator.
• Parents are responsible for the safety and supervision of their children at all times.
• Please handle hot drinks carefully and tidy up after your child.
• Offensive language or behaviour is not tolerated.
• Taking photographs is permitted only if they do not involve other children at the centre and are not shared online.
No charges are made for using the centre.
Policies: Available upon request are Neutral Ground’s policies on Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Health & Safety, and Equal Opportunities.