What does an Independent Visitor do?
An Independent Visitor is a reliable, consistent, constant and independent friend for a child in care.
Children looked after by a local authority often have many people involved in their lives. Most of the people involved with them are paid professionals, and children often experience changes of social worker and foster/residential placement during their time in care.
An Independent Visitor, or IV, is there to provide some consistency, regardless of other changes going on in their lives. Independent Visitors commit to spending a few hours every month building a relationship with a child in care, taking part in one-to-one activities. These depend on the age and interests of the child, and can include things like going for walks, playing in the park, visiting museums, going for a meal or other fun activities.
Independent Visitors stay with the child in care until their 18th birthday or until the child no longer wishes them to do so. At Coram Voice we only match each IV with one child. Children have told us that they value knowing that their IV is only their IV.
This is a long term, one-to-one commitment, which gives huge benefits to both the child and the volunteer.
How to get involved
We have opportunities to become an Independent Visitor in the following areas. If you are interested in getting involved, we would love to hear from you.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) – IVBCP@coramvoice.org.uk
Coventry and Warwickshire – IVCW@coramvoice.org.uk
London and South East England – IVLondon@coramvoice.org.uk
Manchester – IVManchester@coramvoice.org.uk
Norfolk – IVNorfolk@coramvoice.org.uk
Slough – IVSlough@coramvoice.org.uk
Stockport – IVStockport@coramvoice.org.uk
Swindon – IVSwindon@coramvoice.org.uk
Warrington – IVWarrington@coramvoice.org.uk
For further information please go to our vacancies page, send us an email on info@coramvoice.org.uk, or give us a call on 020 7833 5792 to speak to one of the team.