Who we are

The Cloona Partnership was launched on 28 September 2006. (A report of the Launch including a summary of the keynote speech from Baroness Butler-Sloss DBE can be found by clicking this link.)

The Partnership is made up of Cloona Child Contact Centre, South Eastern Health & Social Services Trust and Barnardos. An organisation schematic can be found by clicking on this link. The collaboration of these 3 organisations has resulted in the formation of a contact centre which is unlike any other in Northern Ireland. The organisation has a practice model which is fully holistic in its approach on the impact of parental separation on families with specific importance placed on the effect this has on children.

Please click on the link to see the timeline of the Cloona Child Contact Centre Partnership.

Our Vision

Our core vision is that the children and the parents participating in the work of our Centre will achieve personal growth and live in positive, meaningful relationships with each other, after parental separation.

Our Mission

Our mission is three-fold:

• To empower children to navigate a path through the process of family change(s).
• To provide a safe and supportive environment where children can express their wishes and feelings, have their voices heard, and know that their parents recognise their needs for future contact on a consistent basis.
• To create the conditions where parents and other significant people in the child’s life accept responsibility for providing constructive role models for the child when living through a turbulent period of change in family life.

Families are actively encouraged and supported to adopt an alternative approach to dispute in order to resolve conflict. Cloona Child Contact Centre is a child centred organisation and children are the focus of our work.

Separating is painful for families and throughout the separation process children need to maintain relationships with both parents, and we ask that you put your children’s needs first.

What is a Child Contact Centre?

A Child Contact Centre is a safe, neutral environment where children can meet parents or extended family members with whom they no longer live.

How the centre works

Before contact begins parents will each attend an individual information meeting with the contact centre member of staff. Arrangements may be made directly by telephoning 028 9062 2654/3 or by referral through social workers, solicitors, the court, GP or voluntary agencies. If you wish to see the centre before making formal arrangements please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We aim to provide a warm comfortable place with plenty of toys to aid interaction between you and the child. We also provide light refreshments. The centre is run by the staff and trained, impartial volunteers who are there to assist you.

What do parents do?

The person bringing the child/ren must wait until the other adult has arrived. They can leave or stay in a separate room in the centre until the child/ren have finished their visit. The adults do not have to meet if that is their preference. The centre can be used as a handover point if the visit is to take place outside.

Parents are asked to abide by some basic ground rules.
(See parental agreement).

Confidentiality

The centre does not make any written or verbal reports to referring agencies about contact, apart from the dates and times of attendance. The only exception to this is if we believe that a child is at risk, or if a member of staff, volunteer or centre user is at risk of harm.

Our Premises

Cloona House is a large Georgian House located just of the roundabout at the top of Dunmurry Lane and just above the Hazelwood Estate. We rent office space and have sole use of one large room for weekly family activity. On Saturday mornings we have exclusive use of most of rooms including a lovely garden. Supported contact operates on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Supported Contact is staffed with two full-time members of staff, sessional workers and volunteers. We employ sessional workers to provide counseling, parenting and Seasons for Growth Companions.

Our second venue is Kilwee House where we have exclusive use of the premises. The House was originally the Presbyterian Manse attached to what used to be the Presbyterian Church Parish Hall at the top of Dunmurry Lane. Kilwee is the organisation headquarters and where most of the work relating to court takes place. The Team Manager and Court Welfare Officers are based here with us. This Centre operates 5 days per week.

Should you require any further information on Cloona Child Contact Centre please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Meet the Team

Anne O'Kelly
Anne is the Director of Cloona Child Contact Centre and has been here from the very beginning of the organisation in 2000, as the organisation Co-ordinator. Anne has worked in the charity/voluntary sector for over 15 years.

Contact Anne...

Michelle Casey
Team Manager of the Court Welfare officers Michelle has been involved with the project since the Partnership began. Michelle has a background in Senior Social work specialising in Child Protection.

Contact Michelle...





Lindsay Kerr
Court Welfare Officer Lindsay has worked for the organisation since ???? and has previously ????

Contact Lindsay...

Tara Thompson - Photo to be added
Tara has been a Court Welfare Officer with the organisation for ?? years and has a background in ???

 Contact Tara...

Kelly Grant
Office Administrator Kelly is the newest member of the team. Kelly joined in May 2008 and has previously worked as a Personal Assistant and has a solid background in the area of Human Resources.

Contact Kelly...





Laura Fitzpatrick
Sessional Worker Supervisor - Laura, works in this key supported contact role and has been involved with the organisation from 200??. Laura is also a Seasons for Growth Companion.

Contact Laura...





Sinead Mulholland
Sinead has been involved with the organisation from 200?, and currently provides many services including Sessional Worker Supervisor, Counselling services and Seasons for Growth Companion.

Contact Sinead...