Has anyone been an independent visitor?

[holtol]

I'm considering taking up some form of volunteer role for a few hours per month.

I don't have any specific skill like gardening or baking, but I am a caring person and I heard about people that are independent visitors to give time to children looked after who is there for them and not because they are paid to provide a service.

Has anyone done this before that can provide some insight?

Do you see them in their care environment or go for a walk? It's hard to do things without spending money so did you use your own funds?

How much time on average say per week did you give and was the visit with the same person or someone different each time?

Would you recommend it?

@Sesquipedahlia
If the young persons interests align with yours, great but I'd be careful about thinking you can influence them in that way.
Most visits are also only a few hours and usually day time.
You would also need to be careful about your generosity being taken advantage of.

I saw that it was Barbados but I ended up on a page that said they closed to applications. Thanks for posting. I will look again at some point as maybe it opens each year or something.

Thanks.

The whole point of it is that they have an adult in their life who is interested in them as a person, and who isn’t paid to be in their life.

So following that logic the activities should be entirely based on the yp’s interests, it’s not about influencing them to enjoy what you do, it’s about you coming along with them and being interested in their world.

Like, obviously there are exceptions say if you’re terrified of rollercoasters then you’d say you couldn’t be matched with a child or yp that really wants to go to theme parks.

But basically you are there for them and their interests, not your own.

I’ve never heard of this and it sounds like such a great and rewarding thing to do! I’ve got my hands full with my own DC but something I will keep in mind for the future and I may mention to childless friends who I think would be great for this - people who like being an aunt/uncle but never wanted their own children.

This is amazing!

I think it depends a lot on your YP. I think my YP gets the most from someone being prepared to spend time listening to just her and being interested in her stories and what she cares about. She lives in a foster family with five children so undivided adult attention, i.e. someone who will pay attention to how just she wants to spend her time helps. She loves going to fun activities but also just likes it when I go to the bookshop with her and listen to her tell me about the different books she's read and what their plots are, or listen to her new favourite music with her, basically just take an interest in what's interesting to her. I think to start with structured activities were really good to give us both something to focus on but with time I'm sure you'll develop your own traditions and things you like doing with your YP :) so lovely that you have reached out and are already on a training day!

I will email her and ask her about Plymouth tonight.

@freudenschaude I can assure you I wasn’t considering it as a way to indulge my own interests for my sake! But I’d be a much more effective volunteer paired with a YP who might want to try things I know about.

Obviously when I spend time with younger members of my family there’s a mix of activities and we’re not severely restricted with regard to expense or location or time. I’m trying to explore in my own mind how things might work with those limitations - and whether I’d actually bring any added value to an hour of bowling, for instance. Eating and talking might work better.

I have sent her an email just now so I'll let you know when she replies.

Meanwhile I had a look myself and it looks as if it could be Barnardos for Plymouth -

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services/positive-connectors

https://www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com/article/1469/Plymouth-Advocacy-Barnardo-s-and-Independent-Visitors

I hope that helps - I'll let you know when my coordinator from Coram replies.

As pp said, you might be an IV for a child/yp living in the same home as another child/yp who has an independent visitor (this was the case with my yp) so it is important that the budget isn’t routinely overspent.

That said, we were allowed to to save up several months of allowance to budget towards a big trip and that’s ok, because it contributes to the yp developing important life skills.

I've just found a website where you can search for who provides the IV service in different areas of England.

It could be worth emailing the contact they provide in the image I've pasted and asking when applications re-open?

This is the website I found which has the search function:

ivnetwork.org.uk/become-an-iv/how-to-become-an-iv-apply/

I think mumsnet are reviewing my image as it has an individual's email address in it. However if you go to that search page and put in Plymouth, it gives you the email address of a specific staff member you can contact at Barnardos to ask.

When you are matched the IV service will do their best to match you with a YP that shares your interests so you may find you naturally overlap.

In addition, if you are determined enough, you can email theatres and ask if they will offer discounts for a young person in care if you pay a full price ticket for yourself. Last year I wrote a template email and sent it off to multiple activity providers and I did get some reductions, so my young person did get to access some things she wouldn't otherwise have done. Often people are happy to help if you ask. I am determined my young person shouldn't miss out on things just because we have a limited council budget. Also 'restricted view' theatre tickets are often cheaper than you expect so if you save money from one visit then you can afford a basic theatre ticket for the next visit- and my YP doesn't mind leaning forward a bit even if it isn't the best seat! As my YP is doing drama GCSE she does actually like going to the theatre and likes crazy golf too :) So you might find that kind of thing can work.

Have another look via your council website, my Barnardo's says closed to applications, but it looks as if that is actually because they've changed provider to NYAS. The NYAS website however is impenetrable, and I can't see how to volunteer at all. But I'll look into it tomorrow.

That is exactly what I was thinking about, @Hairydairyfair. I’m (ostensibly, marginally) a theatre professional and have attended so many conferences where directors and producers talk about young people ‘not having access’. I tend to roll my eyes because absolutely no one is barred from crossing the threshold if they can get hold of a ticket, and I strongly object to stereotyping - but the expenditure limitations for IV would make it difficult to share that world regularly with the YP. (Unless I were actually involved and could get rehearsal or complimentary tickets.)

That makes sense.

If you asked the box office directly you can find some 'access' tickets sometimes. Especially if you explain your volunteering role.

Or, restricted view tickets are often affordable if you save a month's budget by doing a free activity and add it to the next month's budget. That is what I did with my YP last time we went to the theatre and the restricted view didn't bother her at all. It's not impossible to get a seat for under £40 in some theatres. Plus some regional or fringe theatres will just have cheaper tickets than that anyway. I find it often takes me a bit longer to find the activity we can afford because of the budget limitations but it hasn't stopped us doing some really interesting things.

I often used to take the family young to free lunchtime recitals at the local conservatoire. That would probably work. Or choral evensong at the cathedral in any city we visited.

Fortunately galleries and museums are free …

The application form for NYAS is on the website. You select IV in the drop down menu.

www.nyas.net/support-us/work-with-us/volunteer-opportunities/voleoi/

Thanks to those who have managed to navigate the relevant websites plus the post about the IV network.

@Sesquipedahliabrilliamt idea re the local Conservatoire, we have one in our next large city so this could be an option. The YP says they like all kinds of music.

sadly in my city the museums are no longer free although with a special card (due to paying Council Tax here not due to being an IV) I can get a better rate and children are free.

I second the pp who said that this is such an uplifting thread! Glad all the posts are keeping it in the “active” list on MN (that’s where I first came across it too). As someone who is paid to work with children & young people in care, I have been motivated to ask their social workers WHY our young people no longer have independent visitors (since the last one retired from doing it) and what I/the charity I work for can do to rectify the situation.

For the pp that is struggling to become an IV, could you look into becoming a Mentor for a child in care? Very similar role, but extends beyond their 18th birthday. Our mentoring scheme is run by the charity that employs me, so I guess that Social Services might be the best place to ask. They probably have a Children in Care social work team who would know the names of companies/charities running the residential homes in their local authority. LAs have their own homes too.

Posting this here from my Coram coordinator in case this is helpful

"Good question, I know a few organisations across the country have IV services.

Coram Voice have Slough, Hillingdon, City, Bromley, Harrow, Brent, Tower Hamlets, Hammersmith in London and South East.

And also services in Norfolk, Manchester, Coventry and Warwickshire- and probably some others that I am missing.

The adverts can be seen here: jobs.coram.org.uk/vacancies

I think some Counties/ Borough’s have their own services.

Action for Children have some other London Boroughs: www.actionforchildren.org.uk/how-we-can-help/our-local-services/find-our-services-near-you/london-independent-visitors-service/

And a quick chatgpt search says:

Barnardo’s – provides advocacy and Independent Visitor services in various areas (e.g., Plymouth, Cornwall, Wirral) through local advocacy teams.
Action for Children (London Independent Visitors Service) – matches volunteer mentors with children in care across London and beyond.
Reconstruct UK – offers Independent Visitors to looked-after children and care leavers in several regions (including Bristol, Reading, Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes, South Gloucestershire).
North Yorkshire Youth – runs a county-wide Independent Visitor scheme in North Yorkshire.
Specialist Organisations

ASIST – delivers Independent Visitor support with careful matching and structured support sessions.
TGP Cymru – operates the North Wales Independent Visiting Service for children in care in Wales.
NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) – provides Independent Visitor services on behalf of some local authorities (e.g., via Dorset Council).
It may just be best to go directly to the local Council site and looking at the “children and young people/ care” section and it should have more information."

Thanks so much, that’s very pragmatic and helpful advice. Being in London does mean there’s pretty unlimited options but I really like the idea of giving a couple of options but flexible as required. Thank you!

Not with children but I've been an elderly befriender for years. With some I just go and we chat over a brew and cake. With some I'll take them out shopping, for a walk and fresh air or to a cafe type place. I'm led by them really and what they and their families want to get out of the time.

I love doing it. It can be hard work and tiring but it's incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

I take part in a reading programme with children, which is half hour blocks as often as you want but to a minimum of I think 20 a school year. It's online but I go into school a couple of times a year too and that is also incredibly rewarding.

I can't recommend volunteering enough, honestly. It's one of my favourite things to do!

Has anyone done this through reconstruct? That's my local one.
I did look for information last year and didn't want to put on people to write me a reference so didn't complete it! I need to stop thinking I am a burden!

I have previously done home start until that was cut in my area :( so hopefully that experience will help.
Are all visit done at weekends or could it be evening if older child?

In theory it could be evenings! Don't see why not

Would home start give a reference for you?