"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."
Listen 04.18
Story: Ariane Bayat - Westcliff-On-Sea
Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
Ian Maine - Essex, Westcliff-On-Sea
Having used similar services years ago, even gives a unique insight into the value of a child contact centre, and how important it can be to reassure parents and children both during the visit, but also in maintaining the health of the longer term relationship.
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.
Interviewer
Could I ask your name?
Ian Maine
My name’s Ian.
Interviewer
And Ian. Could I have your surname?
Ian Maine
Yes, my name’s Ian Maine.
Interviewer
Thank you. And what group are we talking about today?
Ian Maine
We are talking about the Avenue Contact centre.
Interviewer
Excellent. And Ian, could I ask how old you are?
Ian Maine
I’m 57.
Interviewer
Excellent, thank you. So what gets you involved in this organisation?
Ian Maine
So, I’m relatively new to the work at the Contact Centre here. I came to it because I was looking to put something back into the community, and a lot of people would say that, but I’ve actually been a service user at contact centres in the past a long time ago now. So I know the value of them having been a sort of service user. And so that was really the main reason that I wanted to sort of do this. And, obviously on a voluntary basis, it means that we can provide services to people at low cost or no charge, which for a lot of the people that use these sorts of things makes a difference.
Interviewer
And out of interest, are you a local man?
Ian Maine
I’m local. Yes, I moved here two years ago. And so I sort of got curious as to, you know, if I was in the situation I had been in years ago, where would I have gone? And I found this place was actually really near to where I live.
Interviewer
Yes. Well we are hearing more and more about the story of having a Child Contact Centre as we chat to people, and, you know, hearing that you are now the only place in Essex some people must have to travel quite a long way to use the services here, I assume. So, you are a local man, and you’ve got involved because one of the things you’ve done is you’ve used a similar service in the past. From your experience, what difference can a Child Contact Centre make to that developing relationship between parents and children?
Ian Maine
I think they’re hugely important. You know, unfortunately the circumstances for the need for contact centres are, you know, very difficult for people. And I think, a contact centre, it’s just a place that’s outside of all of that. You know, it’s not part of the court system or social services. It’s not to do with them , it takes families out of the equation. It’s just that the parents and the child or, the children and, you know, it’s in a completely different place. It’s no one’s home or anything else. So 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.
Interviewer
And as a parent who’s coming in to use the service, how do you think a parent feels when they’re coming here for the first time, for example?
Ian Maine
Yes, I mean, sort of reflecting back on my own experience, I think it can feel like it’s part of a system, because in most cases there are a set number of sessions at, set times and everything else. You know, they’re not sort of, drop in centres or anything like that. So I think there is an element of trepidation. because It can feel quite formalised, but I think once you are over the threshold of the place itself, and you can sort of settle into what they’re doing it’s a lot better. But certainly I could, I mean, when I used to do this, I used to have to drive two hours, you know, to a contact centre, and two hours back for a two hour session. So that was six hours of my day for two hours with my daughter. So it’s important that, you really make that time count, you know?
Interviewer
And as volunteers, how do you help make that time count for families while they’re here?
Ian Maine
I mean, I think, you know, it’s a really friendly face, just being welcoming to people. You don’t really want to get under their feet because it’s their time with their children. But I think at those points where you meet parents, you know. It could be something like, where’s a particular toy? Or you know, asking people how they are, that’s actually quite important. There’s a whole background that we don’t know about, all that we know is very little about the people that come here. So actually asking people, you know, “how are you?” is actually really important as well. I think being a man in this sort of centre, it’s, you know, these sorts of things, social services, and primary schools, and those sorts of things, it tends to be quite female dominated environments. So actually, I think it’s just nice to add a little bit of, you know…I never thought as a white middle-aged bloke that I’d be adding diversity to anything. But here we are.
Interviewer
Absolutely. No, and it is true, a lot of the volunteering roles are often filled by women. And so it’s great to see a man as part of the story. How long have you been volunteering?
Ian Maine
Here? Well, I’ve only been in volunteering here for about four or five months. So it’s okay. It’s still quite early days for me.
Interviewer
Is there any particular example or story of something that you’ve seen here, which gives you that energy to keep volunteering?
Ian Maine
Actually, I mean, I really look forward to coming here. This is really important to me because I know what it means to people to have this sort of time with their children. So, you know, if there was something else that’s going to offer an alternative for a Saturday, they, you know, generally it is always the contact centre that will win out.
Interviewer
Okay, that’s great to hear. Now is there anything else that you wanted to tell me today that you haven’t had a chance to say yet?
Ian Maine
No, I think that has covered my bit quite well, I think.
Interviewer
Thank you. Really appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you. Your time.
| Contributor: | Ian Maine |
| Recorded on: | 30 January 2025 |
| Role: | |
| Setting: | Child Contact Centre, Community |
| Organisation: | |
| Hospital: | |
| Location: | |
| Themes: | |
| Decade: |
Listen 04.18
Story: Ariane Bayat - Westcliff-On-Sea