Change Grow Live Volunteer Independent Visitors

04/08/2025

A HUGE well and thank you to our amazing IV volunteer Cameron for completing his 15,000ft skydive raising funds for our service. You absolutely nailed it! ⭐️🪂

Black Knights

20/06/2025

Last, but definitely not least, in our June series of Volunteer stories meet Eva and read about her experience of volunteering as an IV-

I’m Eva, an independent volunteer supporting a 16 year old girl with CGL. I’ve been volunteering since 2019 and this is my second looked-after young person. My first young person is now an adult and living independently.

I decided to become an IV when my daughter went to university and I had some free time when my husband and son would be at the football together.

Being a volunteer is incredibly rewarding, the opportunity to build a supportive relationship with a young person is wonderful, seeing them grow and develop, whilst being someone they can depend on.

Sometimes we just go out for a coffee or a walk, we’ve painted pottery on a rainy day, had picnics in the sunshine, we’ve been bowling, ice skating, and she loves a game of pool.

I highly recommend volunteering with CGL. The team is incredibly supportive, ensuring the volunteers have access to great training and know what to do in every eventuality and they’re always on hand to answer any questions.

12/06/2025

Continuing our celebration of Volunteers, please read Nicci's story -

My name is Nicci and I am a volunteer Independent Visitor for Change Grow Live. I have been volunteering in this role for 2 years now.

I wanted to do something for children because I have 2 grown up children and value their friendship. They are an eternal source of joy and adventure (ups and downs). I had time on my hands and thought, why not befriend another young person.

I can’t believe I have known the young person I am matched with for so long. It was only yesterday that I had butterflies just thinking of meeting her, wondering what she would think of me, if she would like me and me her and worrying that she wouldn’t want to continue our visits.

Earlier this year that she said to me, ‘Do you remember our first visit? Were you nervous? I was so worried you wouldn’t like me.’ There is no way I wouldn’t like her (she is just so lovely) but this says it all really – we are in this together.

Our typical visit will be a long walk, talking, laughing, picnicking (if the weather holds). My young person likes to know she is learning something, so we have set some challenges for ourselves – like going on a tram, ordering food and paying, talking about finances and what running a home of your own feels like. Sometimes we just have fun – we both believe in ghosts so these are fun conversations.

Some of my favourite memories include completing a Park Run for the first tie, a trip to the pumpkin farm at Halloween, shopping in Nottingham, and the delight we felt when the chocolates and good will messages we left in Leicester disappeared. We love going to the cinema and enjoyed challenging ourselves at Go Ape. That was a laugh a minute and made both of us feel very proud of our achievement.

There are times, when sheshares the parts of her life that aren’t going well, when I think to myself ‘what if I get this wrong’, ‘what if I say the wrong thing’. But I just breath through this, let her know when she is saying something that really makes me worry for her or let her know that I am not sure I agree with the path she has taken. Sometimes we agree to disagree and usually the conversation is enough to keep her thinking about her choices. When I see her the next time, she reopens the conversation. Sometimes not. That is okay. I also know I am not the only person in her life who cares about her and is supporting her.

My husband says he can see from my facial expression after each visit, how much joy the visits bring me. This young person is now an important person in my life.

09/06/2025

Volunteers are the heart of our service and we couldn't help so many children and young people in our local communities without them. The relationships they form are life changing and fulfilling. Volunteer today - full training and support given. Link in bio

05/06/2025

Hello, I’m Claire and I volunteer for CGL as an Independent Visitor for children in care under Staffordshire Children’s Services.

I have been volunteering since November 2023 with CGL and they are a really lovely charity with very supportive staff.

I decided to begin volunteering after reading statistics with respect to how many children are currently in care in the United Kingdom. I reflected on my own young children and how lucky they are to enjoy such a supportive and extended family environment and decided that I wanted to reach out to help support a young person who is not so fortunate and hopefully provide them with a positive source of guidance and support.

Being an Independent Visitor for a teenage girl has been really rewarding and has also taught me a lot about the care system and how important roles like this are to the ‘in care’ ecosystem.

Volunteering has also helped me to grow as an individual and I have developed new soft skills at speed in order to be the best source of support I can to a young person with a very complex history.

My young person shares my love of music and a special and touching thing I have learned during my time with this person, is that children in care are not always bothered about doing a specific activity or something entertaining, sometimes they just want to be in your company and do very normal things like have a drive in the car and listen to their favourite songs and sing along together. Driving home after spending time with my young person has sometimes felt a bit emotional and sometimes a bit frustrating, however, it is clear that being an IV does make a tangible difference to a young person’s life and can be a welcome break for them from their often very uneventful everyday routine.

I would absolutely recommend volunteering with children in care and I am so glad I made that initial contact with CGL.

03/06/2025

I’m Sarah and I volunteer as an Independent Visitor for a looked-after young person through CGL in Staffordshire. I’ve been volunteering since summer 2024.

I decided to get involved because I’ve worked alongside children’s services for a few years. I love my job, but most of it involves meetings with adults and I wanted to do something more hands-on; something that made a direct difference in a young person’s life.

Independent Visiting stood out to me because I understand how tough it can be for looked after children, especially when most adults in their lives are there in a professional capacity. I love that I get to be there just for the little things; to have fun, to listen, and to be a consistent, caring presence.

Volunteering has been such a rewarding experience. Building a relationship with the young person I support has opened my eyes in so many ways. One of my highlights was planning a trip to Manchester together - he’d never left the local area before, and seeing him experience the city for the first time was unforgettable. It’s not just about me showing him new places either, he’s introduced me to his world too! Just last night, we went trampolining (his favourite hobby). He showed off his somersaults, and I managed to survive without any broken bones!

I’d absolutely recommend volunteering with CGL. They’ve supported me every step of the way while giving me the freedom to build a real connection. Their support means that most of my time volunteering is spent with the young person, which is exactly what I wanted.

Volunteering has taught me so much about myself, and it feels amazing to give back to my community. If you’re thinking about it - go for it! CGL offers a range of opportunities to suit your experience and availability, and you really can make a difference.

02/06/2025

At the start of National Volunteers Week we want to give a huge THANK YOU to our teams of Independent Visiting Volunteers.

Over the past 12 months these volunteers have together given hundreds of hours of their free time to encourage, champion and just have fun with some of the most vulnerable young people in our society. Their dedication is inspiring and the difference they make is truly wonderful to see.

20/05/2025

*UPDATE*
Due to maintenance issues, Cameron's sky- dive has been postponed to 4th June. Keeping our fingers crossed for good weather on that day!

Thank you so much to all who have donated so far. Please continue to like and share to support Cameron in his effort!

Help Claire Poole raise money to support Change Grow Live

15/05/2025

Staffordshire Independent Visiting is holding Volunteer Training sessions in June... Get involved, make a difference in a child's life - contact us today

27/04/2025

https://www.lichfieldgarrick.com/events/the-pocket-dream

An absolutely BRILLIANT show on at Lichfield Garrick for the next week. Highly recommended by some of our volunteers and young people as "brilliant - very very funny".

A Lichfield Garrick ProductionWhen disaster strikes a David Garrick Strolling Players production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, who will step forward to sav

22/04/2025

Less than one month until CGL Volunteer Cameron sky dives 15,000ft to raise additional funds for our valuable services!

Please share and donate ✨✨✨

Help Claire Poole raise money to support Change Grow Live

04/04/2025

Volunteer Independent Visitor Cameron is doing a sponsored 15,000 ft Skydive to raise money for our Staffordshire service!

Funds will help pay for group events, volunteering resources and special days out for the very special young people we support.

Please share our JustGiving page and donate if you can to help Cameron with this amazing event.

Help Claire Poole raise money to support Change Grow Live