Are you looking for a way you can give back to your community? Many volunteering opportunities can require quite a lot of time and for that time to be during the working week. Many of us work full-time but still want to be able to volunteer in some way.
asphaleia care has provided the Independent Visiting Service for London Borough of Bromley for a number of years. It is a befriending service for young people in care where young people are matched with an Independent Visitor (IV) who takes them out once a month (usually at the weekend) to spend time and be a listening ear.
Take a look at this video that describes what the IV role is all about:
It is important for young people in care to have an adult that they can talk to who is independent from social services. Here is what some of our young people have said about their visitors:
I like my IV as she is very kind.
My IV is wonderful, caring and she helps me with my problems, she is also very kind-hearted.
My IV is really kind hearted person, she is very supportive and I've had lots of fun going to different places with her.
S was more of a role model for me as opposed to an IV, saw him as a good person, led me in right direction, helped with career choices, he is a caring person, have fun together.
Could you be an IV? Do you have a few hours a month to spare? We are looking for:
- A male IV in Folkestone/Dover/Canterbury or in the surrounding area.
- Three females based in south east London
The application process involves completing a short form and then you may be shortlisted for an interview. If you are successful at interview we will do a DBS check, obtain three references and you will undertake induction training.
We ask for a minimum commitment of 12 months (12 visits) but hope that IV's will keep visiting their young person beyond this point. Many IV's continue until the young person turns 18 and then they remain friends into adulthood. The relationship is mainly of benefit over time and young people in care benefit from the consistent presence of their IV when so many other elements of their life in care are changeable.
As an IV, you will receive plenty of support with bi-monthly supervision from your Coordinator and learning sets with other IV's. We also run two group visits annually so all young people and their IV's can enjoy an activity all together.
Contact us today to find out more or to request an application pack.