The Role

Do you want to make a difference to a child or young person’s life?

Do you have 1-4 hours per month to spare?

Become an Independent Visitor!

An Independent Visitor is a volunteer who regularly spends time with a child or young person in care.  They need to be dependable and reliable in order to build a trusting and positive relationship with the child or young person over time. They become and remain a consistent adult in the child’s life and who at all times keeps the child or young person at the centre of what they do.

As an Independent Visitor you will meet with the child or young person you are matched with approximately once a month to take them out, have fun and maybe share a hobby, sport or interest, and be a good role model. Independent Visitors can also offer support and a listening ear and help build self- esteem and confidence.

Some young people live in out-of-borough placements and can often feel isolated. They could benefit hugely from regular visits from a volunteer, so being prepared to travel might also enable them to experience the benefits of an independent visitor in their life

We ask that you are able to commit for two years, thereby providing the young person with long-term consistency. Before you can become an Independent Visitor we request references and undertake checks, including DBS.

Following approval as an independent visitor, you will be provided with on-going support and training.

Children and young people who are eligible for Independent Visitors have a vast diversity of needs. Therefore we want to encourage people from a wide range of racial and cultural backgrounds to apply.

This role is unpaid, but volunteers can recover expenses, including transport and some money for activities. 

For an informal discussion about the above post, please contact:

Mei Lai Lu, Participation and Independent Visitor Manager:  07775417462

Please send all completed applications to: wiv@wandsworth.gov.uk

This post is subject to a DBS check.

CVs are not accepted.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils