safe arrivals, safe connections

Last month, a little boy waved goodbye to his mum at the meeting point with a big smile. He skipped along beside his Contact Worker to the park, where his dad was waiting at the swings.

Because the parents hadn’t crossed paths, the transition felt natural and easy. The boy ran straight to his dad, laughing as he climbed onto the swing.

Later, he told his Contact Worker, “I like it when it’s just me and dad here.”

Moments like these remind us that small details - two meeting points, staggered timing - can make visits feel safe, secure, and full of joy.

At Holding Hands, contact visits take place in everyday spaces like parks, libraries, and play centres. These familiar settings give children a sense of normalcy. 

Separate meeting points mean families arrive calmly and avoid tension, so children can step into their visit without feeling caught in the middle. When the grown-ups are settled, children feel safe to enjoy their time.

We carefully set meeting points at a distance from each other - often just around the corner or down the street.

This means each parent has their own space to arrive and prepare, and the likelihood of seeing each other is very small.

For children, this simple structure makes all the difference: they walk into their visit focused on play and connection, not on whether their parents might cross paths.

Our visits are gently staggered, with one parent arriving earlier and the other arriving later. These small gaps in time are intentional. They remove the chance of awkward encounters, give our Contact Workers time to settle each parent, and ensure the child’s arrival feels calm and unrushed. 

It’s not just about logistics - it’s about creating an environment where children can relax into their visit.

Children often tell us what feels safe without using words. They notice when a visit begins with a calm hello, when a parent is already waiting with open arms, or when they can walk into a library or park without worry.

These little details create predictability. And for children, predictability is safety. It helps them trust the routine, so they can focus on what matters most - enjoying time with their parent.