Your Time
Every Wednesday morning is ‘Your Time,’ we get together in person or virtually for a coffee, chat, support and advice The group alternates one week for resident persons (the person who the child lives with) and the next for non resident persons (the person who the child doesn’t live with).
You can chat to other people going through or who’ve been through a similar situation, chat to staff and get advice from visiting experts.
Read about other parent/carers experiences at Buzz. We’ve changed the names but none of the words.
How did you feel when you had to use the family centre?
I felt happy that we didn’t have to get the courts involved.
How did you feel when you first walked into Buzz?
Comfortable and at ease, especially around the holiday season. There was lots of support.
How did Buzz help you?
They made it easier for my son to see his dad in a happy environment.
Sum up Buzz in three words.
Helpful, friendly and safe
What advice would you give other parents starting at Buzz?
Be honest with the staff about your worries or concerns. They will help you with anything they can.
Jenny
– parent who Lucas lives withHow did you feel when you had to use the family centre?
I was nervous as I had used other contact centres before and didn’t know what to expect at Buzz.
I was worried about being stared at.
How did you feel when you first walked into Buzz?
I felt really welcome by everyone at Buzz and at ease.
How did Buzz help you?
They made me feel really comfortable and not judged.
Sum up Buzz in three words.
Amazing, friendly, and helpful.
What advice would you give other parents starting at Buzz?
Put the nerves aside and jump right in.
Camron
– person who spends time with Elsie at BuzzHow did you feel when you had to use the family centre?
I had used contact centres before but never a charity one, however when I came for the first time it was a warm, friendly environment with lots of support given.
How did you feel when you first walked into Buzz?
I was impressed with the big room sizes and lovely set out toys.
Everyone was really welcoming with refreshments offered.
How did Buzz help you?
They provided me with friendly faces to chat to when I felt lonely.
Sum up Buzz in three words
Welcoming, Supportive and nurturing.
What advice would you give other parents starting at Buzz?
The services here are brilliant. I would recommend it to other foster carers.
The support is always there, and you are not alone.
It’s such a positive place and I would be more than happy to come here again.
Michelle
– Foster Carer for RyanMore Reviews from parents
The following reviews are anonymous, to protect the confidentiality of our clients.
“It is due to the dedication and efforts of contact centre staff that both our children, now in their teens, have been able to maintain and build a strong bond and relationship with me, their dad.
We have been using the Centre for a while and due to the circumstance the involvement of contact centre staff has been instrumental for our children having any relationship with their dad (non resident parent), and has certainly been beneficial to their emotional and educational needs.
Thanks again and for your continued support.”
“For me as a parent, I wish we knew about Buzz earlier. Buzz is somewhere safe and more like a play group/ fun centre so it isn’t an alien place for either parents that struggle with anxiety or children.
It is always welcoming and my children enjoyed all the activities and friendly staff there. It was nice knowing that on the sessions I did leave they felt they could trust a member and ask for help and was actually listened too and not ignored and forced to ‘get on with it’.
Obviously no-one knows ‘what if’s’ but I think if we had used the centre before it would have helped us all as a family.
Highly recommend Buzz and both my two children would too, to other children and families.
Contact is about quality not quantatity and even just having an hour or two of fun with the non residential parent is better than a few hours of nothing as the child(ren) will remember these times more.
Thank you so much to each and everyone of you. You all do an amazing job.”
“The contact centre has been a very great help to me and my two girls. Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to see my children, given the stance of my ex. They do a very wonderful job!”