"It just provides a nice sort of insulated environment where the only thing that you have to think about is the time that you spend with your children. That's hugely important."
Listen 06.23
Story: Ian Maine - Essex, Westcliff-On-SeaRelated
Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
Ariane Bayat - Westcliff-On-Sea
Ariane was looking for opportunities to develop her experience and gain a counselling qualification.
While the circumstances that families arrive here might not be the best, there are happy endings, and I see that what the Contact Centre does is so worthwhile, and I love being part of that.
What she describes is finding so much more than that. It has proved to be a place that is both fulfilling, and mutually supportive.
Interviewer
So could I ask your name first?
Ariane Bayat
It’s Ariane
Interviewer
And your surname.
Ariane Bayat
Bayat.
Interviewer
Thank you. So we are talking about Avenue Child Contact Centre.
Ariane Bayat
Oh, right, okay.
Interviewer
Yes, yes. And could I ask how old you are?
Ariane Bayat
I’m 35.
Interviewer
So Ariane, what brings you here?
Ariane Bayat
So when I first looked into finding volunteer work working with children, I was doing a children’s counseling qualification. And I wanted, I’ve worked with children previously quite a bit in the past, but I hadn’t for a while. And I wanted some more up to date experience working with children to go alongside the course that I was doing. And I found the Children’s Contact Centre, which was perfect because it was not only with children, but also with families. And that was the work that I was interested, was working with families and children. So yes, reached out to Nicolette, and started volunteering. Coming up to a year ago now, I would still have a couple more years to qualify as a children’s counsellor. And I’ve paused for the time being, but I wanted to continue volunteering here because I’ve really loved it and found it so rewarding.
Interviewer
So you were doing a counselling course? Did you have any perceptions of what you thought here might be like before you came?
Ariane Bayat
No, I really didn’t because I knew that it was supported contact, not supervised contact, and that there was a blend of families who were self-referred, and court-ordered so that their circumstances would be different, and the relationships between the parents and the children would be different. So I, I didn’t, I didn’t really have any idea to be honest about what it would be like.
Interviewer
Okay. And you wanted to perhaps use some of the skills that you were collecting through your training. Has that happened practically? How’s that? How have you found that?
Ariane Bayat
I suppose I didn’t come into this thinking I would use my skills because that wouldn’t be right because I’m not qualified, and that’s not what I was here to do. It was just, it was more up to date experience being around families and children. It wasn’t to sort of practice or anything like that. It was very much separate. Those things were very separate, but it’s just, yes, it’s just been very useful to be around families and their children.
Interviewer
And you said you’d paused your training? But you still wanted to volunteer. What keeps you wanting to volunteer? What do you enjoy?
Ariane Bayat
I enjoy coming and socialising with a group of volunteers that I might not normally see or socialise with. It’s a really great team of volunteers here. We all get on really well, and I love seeing them when I come. And I love seeing that, you know, while the circumstances that families arrive here might not be the best that there are, there are happy endings, and that I see what the Contact Centre does, is so worthwhile, and I love being a part of that. Just a small part.
Interviewer
No, it sounds great. And it does feel like a family. I have to say that’s, that’s the whole vibe that comes through when we talk to people. And you seem very well connected to each other as volunteers. That also comes through. So when you thought about coming in to see us, was there anything that you wanted to say that you haven’t had the chance to say today?
Ariane Bayat
No, I don’t think so. I just, I wanted to come and talk to you guys because anything that I can do that helps the Contact Centre, I’m here for. I just want more people to know about the Contact Centre. I want people that need or want to use their services to do so. I don’t know how many people know that we are here, and this is what we can help with and what we can support. So the more people that know the better, and the more families that we can help, the better.
Interviewer
Excellent. Thank you.
| Contributor: | Ariane Bayat |
| Recorded on: | 5 March 2025 |
| Role: | |
| Setting: | Child Contact Centre |
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| Hospital: | |
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Listen 06.23
Story: Ian Maine - Essex, Westcliff-On-Sea