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Hi, I'm new to this group I'm a little simple lol and not sure if I'm going about this the right way or writing in the right place. I'll try and keep a VERY long story short.
I have not seen my 2 year old son threw no fault of my own since he was 2 weeks old, I've been fighting to get to see him threw court ever since. The family courts have finally said that I should be having a relationship with him, however as he has no idea who I am contact must be started off as fully supervised. If CAFCASS were still involved in my case they would pay for this as would social services if they were ever involved but they never have been. My solicitor tells me that if I was in this position this time last year then the Legal Services Commission (Legal aid) would pay the fees but due to Government cutbacks that no longer happens. I am told that I myself who is on ESA must fund it myself and if I can not find the funds for this then contact will have to wait until I am in a financial position to do so. Fees are £50 per hour and I've been granted 2 hours a fortnight. This will be the case at least until my next court hearing in November. I have managed to get £400 together that is after going hungry, got a one off payment of £100 off CAB and selling my positions, writing to and being fobbed off by my local MP and the right honourable lol Lord McNally.
I was wondering dose anybody else have any ideas of know of any sources of funding I might be able to get help from?
Thank you
Steve
Hi Steve,
I'm not sure where abouts you are but I know in my area in south devon there is a free place that runs every weekend, in a local church hall. If you give me the area that you are I can look into that for you via them?
To be expected to pay that is awful, why did the court take so long to come to the right decision?! At least you have won part of the battle now!
Joanne
My local contact centre charges 10 per session and runs every alternate weekend - I think you are being seriously overcharged for that,, so I'd look and see if there is an alternative. WOuld be worth contact your local council.
I dont know if this will help but you can try...
http://www.naccc.org.uk/find-a-contact-centre
Regards,
Dave
I’d guess at £50/hr that is for “one-on-one” supervised contacts, that is where they usually make notes and produce eports etc… for the courts/cafcass etc...
As per DaveR says check with the NACCC also try asking at your local council offices if they have details of any local volunteer or charity run contact centres.
In my local area there are a couple of local centres run a local volunteers groups.
It may be worth contacting any of the NACCC centres to discuss your situation. Alternative the local churches who run these things may be sympathetic to your case if you explain. You do no harm by discussing.
Good luck
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