NACCC — National Association of Child Contact Centres

NACCC is the only UK charity dedicated to providing safe spaces where children can meet the parents they don't live with. It accredits around 300 child contact centres across England and Wales, run by a network of over 4,000 volunteers and staff, and is the reference point for supported and supervised contact when the court orders or recommends contact centre use.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31

What NACCC is

NACCC (Registered Charity 1078636) is based in Nottingham (5 Russell Place, NG1 5HJ). It sets national standards for child contact centres, accredits services against those standards, and helps families find and use them. Contact centres enable children to spend time with a non-resident parent where direct contact at home or elsewhere would be unsafe, unworkable or too conflictual.

NACCC works closely with the family courts — many judges and Cafcass officers direct families to NACCC-accredited services, and families can also self-refer to supported contact in many areas.

What help it offers

Find a centre — a searchable directory of accredited child contact centres and services across England and Wales at naccc.org.uk/find-a-centre.
General enquiries: 0115 948 4557 (staff will typically call back within a few working days).
Information on self-referral — for supported contact, many centres accept self-referrals without a court order; supervised contact usually requires a court order or a Cafcass/social work referral.
Guidance on costs — supported contact is often free or low-cost; supervised sessions usually carry a fee. NACCC's FAQs explain what help may exist for families on low incomes.
Explanation of the difference between supported family time (a friendly, open setting with volunteers present) and supervised family time (a worker observes and records the contact).
Referral routing for Scotland — contact NACCC for details of Relationships Scotland services north of the border.

Important limits: NACCC itself does not run contact centres, does not provide legal advice, and cannot force a centre to take a case. Contact centre availability and fees vary by location.

Contact details

Website: https://naccc.org.uk
Telephone: 0115 948 4557
Email: contact@naccc.org.uk
Find a centre: https://naccc.org.uk/find-a-centre

How a self-representing parent can use NACCC

1. Propose contact centre use in your application or response. If there are safety, allegation or conflict concerns, offering to start with contact at an accredited centre is a well-recognised, child-focused way forward — search the directory for your nearest centre before your hearing or mediation session. 2. Understand supported vs supervised contact. Know which type your situation needs: supported contact suits most cases where risk is low; supervised contact is for cases with significant welfare concerns and normally needs a referral from the court, Cafcass or children's services. 3. Check referral routes before the hearing. Call 0115 948 4557 or read the FAQs to find out whether your local centre accepts self-referrals or needs an order — arriving at court knowing this strengthens your position. 4. Prepare children for the first visit. NACCC's guidance explains what happens at a centre, rules, and how to talk to your child about it. 5. Costs and low-income help. Ask the centre and NACCC about fees and any available help; centres are usually community or volunteer-run.

Useful links

NACCC homepage: https://naccc.org.uk
Find a centre: https://naccc.org.uk/find-a-centre
Cafcass (for how contact concerns are assessed): https://www.cafcass.gov.uk

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures and contact details change — verify anything important against the official sources linked above before relying on it. Your Family Case is an independent directory listing; we take no referral fees and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or receiving payment from any organisation listed.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.