10 March 2015
Volunteers are being sought by the Independent Visitors for Young People to support children and young people in care and ensure that their voice is being heard.
The Independent Visitors for Young People is a group of volunteers who visit Jersey’s open and secure residential units. They listen to any concerns and, working in conjunction with the Children’s Service, they ensure that the children’s and young people’s opinions are considered.
On Tuesday 17 March an open evening is being held at the Town Hall, Assembly Room, from 7 pm so that interested people can hear about what is involved in being a member of the Independent Visitors for Young People and hopefully get volunteering.
The voice of the child
Sheila Warren, who chairs the Independent Visitors for Young People said “We carry out visits to monitor aspects of their life in care, such as living conditions, and access to educational and recreational opportunities. We also check that standards are maintained, identify concerns and deal with issues raised by young people and staff.
“We currently have around ten members, who are different ages and come from different cultures and backgrounds – but we’d like more. Having more members will help ensure that we can always make regular visits and that we can spend more time with the children and young people, both on a group and individual basis. We need to be sure that young people in care are living in a caring environment and that the right support is in place to prepare them for their future life.”
No special qualifications are required and ongoing training is provided. All volunteers will be CRB checked before they can begin volunteering.
If you would like more information about the open evening you can call the Chief Minister's Department or download an online application form.
Call +44 (0) 1534 440685
gov.je