We were delighted to see this reference to Maidenhead Child Contact Centre in Theresa May’s recent comments to the House. Soroptimists from our club helped set up the Centre and a number of members have been volunteers at the Centre ever since in several cases for over 25 years. It was gratifying to have this work recognised.
Extract from Hansard – Mrs May – Thursday 15th April – Domestic Abuse Bill (approx. 1.30pm)
I wanted to discuss Lords amendment 9, because I have a question for the Government in relation to it. I recognise that in the private law family cases the judiciary and Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service have protocols. May I say to the Minister that from my experience of more than 20 years as a constituency MP, telling me that CAFCASS has an involvement in something does not necessarily fill me with reassurance? So I say to the Government that it is important to make sure that those protocols are sufficient and that they are doing the job that needs to be done. Speaking about child contact centres, may I simply say that I would like to thank everybody who has been involved in the Maidenhead child contact centre over the years? Sadly, it has taken the decision that it needs to close, but it has provided support to many, many families and children over the years, and I would like to thank those there for their work.