Families getdigital contact support
A Stirling-based service is helping separated parents keep in touch with their children during the coronavirus crisis.
Keeping in contact with your child at present can be a challenge for parents who live apart.
To help, Family Mediation Central Scotland (FMCS) is launching a new Digital Post Box service.
The service offers those parents who do not communicate directly with each other a chance to use a digital post box to keep them in contact with their child during the current public health restrictions. The digital post box - run by FMCS staff - will ensure that any emails, photographs or videos exchanged between parents are appropriate.
Staff will also ensure that parent’s individual contact details are kept confidential.
Service manager Kathleen Frew said: “Under normal circumstances, the vast majority of our time is spent in face-to-face work with parents and children, whether that’s in family mediation or in our contact centres.
“However, because we are not able to offer such direct services at the present time, we have set up this new Digital Post Box service to help our local families.
“When people are in conflict, it’s a given that they are not comfortable speaking directly to each other or meeting each other for the handover of a child. They would normally have a member of our staff present to help, but that’s not currently possible. That’s why we’ve gone online.
“We remain open to receive any general enquiries about family mediation or child contact. Our staff are available to offer oneto-one support to new or existing clients by phone. I would encourage anyone experiencing difficulties to get in touch.”
FMCS has had to temporarily close its contact centres in Stirling, Falkirk and Alloa. These are used by some separated parents as a pick up and drop off point for their children and by others as a neutral place to spend time with children they do not live with.
More information at www.fmcentral.org or call 01786 472984 for additional support.