Independent Visitor Service

Volunteer to befriend and support a young person in care

Overview

What an Independent Visitor does

Independent Visitors support children and young people in care up to age 18. They meet with them every month for a few hours.

They can:

  • give them someone other than a paid carer to talk to
  • be a consistent and supportive person in their life
  • help them learn to trust
  • share a hobby, sport or interest
  • help with school or college work
  • have fun days out with them

An Independent Visitor can be life changing for a young person in care.

In some cases, volunteers have carried on visiting a young person for many years. Even after the young person leaves the care system.

At other times, the relationship comes to a natural end as the young person grows older. The circumstances of the volunteer or young person may change.