Independent visitors are volunteers who provide independent support and befriend children and young people who are looked after by the City & County of Swansea (in foster or residential placements or living at home with parents on a care order). The 1989 Children Act states that all Local Authorities have a duty to provide Independent Visitors (I.V's) for those children and young people who are looked after and who have little or no contact with their parents or family.

Children and young people who are “Looked After” often experience a lot of disruption in their lives and may live outside the City & County of Swansea. An Independent Visitor is someone who can be a consistent figure in their lives, when there is no-one in their family who is able to take this role.

Independent visitors are carefully matched with a child or young person. Personality, age, gender, interests, location, experience, and the wishes and feelings of the child or young person and the volunteer will all be taken into consideration.

View our Case Study in the 'Resources' column to the right of this page for more information.