I was introduced to my matched young person when he was 13. Now, having passed his 19th birthday, his time in the Independent Visitor Scheme is coming to an end.
When I first met this young man, you could say he was a 'typical' teenage boy. He didn't chat an awful lot, he wanted to do activities that involved running around, and when he realised that he could connect his phone to my car stereo, on came the loud music!
Over the years, we went out pretty much every month, as per the scheme guide. We have done all sorts of activities together, including go karting, paintballing, bowling, trampolining, and going to the cinema, to name but a few.
But the Independent Visitor scheme is not just about going out and having fun. I see that its core value is building a relationship with a young person who, due to no fault of their own, hasn't had the best start in their life. It's about being a consistent, reliable adult that they can grow to trust. It's about being a positive influence during a critical time of their life and development.
The pleasure for me is not in the activities that we do together (although most I do enjoy!), but it's seeing that the young person actually wants to go out with me, is often enthusiastic about it, and has a smile on their face when dropped off at home. What is really emotive is when he says ‘thank you’ or ‘I've had a good day’, followed by ‘see you next time’.
My young person has grown as a person, and in confidence. Although I cannot take credit for that, I would like to think that I’ve played just a small part in forming him into the man that he is now.
Recently I've found that the music isn't played as loud in the car, and sometimes he doesn't even connect it at all! I'm pleased to say that my young person wants us to keep meeting outside of the scheme, and I feel honoured that this is the case. Our friendship will continue into the future, and I hope that I can be a positive part of his life for many years to come, as he is in mine.
Person:'DH', Independent Visitor
We encourage residents from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply, but are currently particularly eager to hear from men across Leicestershire. We currently have multiple boys and young men waiting for positive male figures to become available - could you help?
If you would like to learn more about the Independent Visitor scheme, you can contact the Fostering Team by emailing fostering@leics.gov.uk or calling 0116 305 0505.
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