Independent Visitor (Volunteering with looked after children in Plymouth)

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference.

Our Independent Visitors provide a vital support to young people who are in care. They develop a long-term friendship with a young person and share fun and motivational experiences together. As an Independent Visitor you will help young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or go on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park. Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in their local area who shares similar interests.

A Positive Connector is a volunteer befriender to a looked-after child or young person. As a positive connector, you will meet regularly with your young person, building enduring and trusting relationships and engaging in lots of fun. Befriending a child is a very responsible role and we are looking for individuals who are trustworthy, consistent and will be a great adult role model to young people. If you could consistently provide a once-a-month visit (or more if you are able) for 2 to 4 hours, then we urge you to apply to become a Positive Connector. We ask you to consider the Positive Connector role as being at least a year commitment, however the match could last longer. If this sounds like you and you have a passion for supporting children and young people and making a real difference to a looked-after child, then we look forward to receiving your application to our Plymouth team! This volunteering opportunity will be befriending children and young people within the Plymouth area in the afternoon/evening after school hours or at the weekends.

Independent Visitors are outside the care system and provide young people with continuity, which is something not always possible with changing carers and social workers. We are therefore looking for people from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life to commit a minimum of 18 months (preferably longer) to working with a young person in this role.