Ben's Story

An Introduction to Child Contact Centres

Written by Linda Wyon

Illustrated by Angela Goodman

This book is a must for any divorced or separated parents or partners who are unable to agree in an amicable way on how to deal with the hand over of a child from one parent to the other.

Written as a book for children as young as four or five, the situation is seen through the eyes of Ben when his parents split up. The message for him and his peers is they are free to go on loving and seeing both parents. Things will be different, but the situation is not his fault and it is okay for him to remain close to both mum and dad and have fun with both parents. The book is sponsored by the Child Contact Centres and the point is made that they are always there to help (in the UK) and the book’s purpose is to get the work of the NACCC better known.

This is a charming book for a parent to read together with a child before using one of the Centres. Unfortunately, the emphasis is on ‘Daddy’ leaving the home, and this will certainly not please some fathers. There is, however, a reminder that mums can - and do - leave home too and need to use one of the Centres to keep that all-important contact with their child.

The text and illustrations show clearly and bluntly the confusion for a child if his or her parents part. Due emphasis is placed on the questions which all children need to ask and of the importance of explanations, especially about seeing the non-resident parent.

According to the NACCC, 2,000 children a week are kept in touch with both parents through the network of Child Contact Centres. They are not the place for negotiation and the purpose of the Centres, which are staffed by trained volunteers, is to help parents put into practice agreements made elsewhere. In the muddle of the aftermath of a family breakup they do provide a safe haven for a child to keep a link with both parents, and we have all learnt the value of that for a child of divorce.

Ben's Story is a sensitive way of looking at both the practical aspects and the emotional impact on children when parents no longer love and live together.

© Jill Curtis 2002

published by National Association of Child Contact Centres   price £1.99

For details and addresses visit the NACCC website: www.naccc.org.uk