How to Make a Difference in Your Local Area

19 October 2023

Volunteering in the Local Community

It’s no secret that here at Changing Futures North East, we love our local area.

We love where we live, and that’s why we need local people to do something amazing, give back and volunteer as an Independent Visitor.

Independent Visitors are matched with vulnerable children and young people in care. They meet with their young person regularly to offer friendship, support, and guidance. Independent Visitors can help children and young people to develop their social skills, confidence, and self-esteem.

 

Why volunteer as an Independent Visitor in the Tees Valley area?

  • Make a real difference in the life of a child or young person: Independent Visitors play a big role in the lives of children and young people in the Tees Valley. By becoming a befriender, Independent Visitors can help children and young people to reach their full potential.
  • Be supported throughout: Changing Futures North East provides a supportive community for Independent Visitors. We offer training, supervision, and support to ensure that our volunteers have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. Our volunteer coordinators Liv and Jodie are here for you every step of the way!
  • Make a difference in your community: We know people are very proud to be from Teesside, and rightly so. By volunteering as an Independent Visitor, you can make a real difference in the lives of young people and help to make the Tees Valley a better place to live.

 

What can you do as an Independent Visitor?

The amazing part of being an IV is that the role is all about having fun! You and your young person can bond over similar interests and hobbies or explore something new. Some things you could do together include.

  • Going for a walk on the beach: We are very lucky to live on the beautiful coast, so why not take advantage? Many of our volunteers love visiting places such as Seaton Carew, Redcar or Saltburn with their young person for an autumn walk. Just make sure you wrap up warm!
  • Enjoy our local beauty spots: The Tees Valley area is home to some breathtaking scenery, even as the temperature drops. You and your young person could go on a walk around the Headland, climb up Eston Nab or take on Roseberry Topping to see Teesside at its best.
  • Grabbing a bite to eat or a cup of coffee: You can find many much-loved chain restaurants (we know Nando’s is always a favourite with our young people!) across the entire region or discover some amazing independent cafes and coffee shops right on your doorstep.

 

Conclusion

Volunteering is a brilliant way to help make your local area a better place. You can help a young person in your area reach their potential. No matter where you are across the Tees Valley region, you can make a difference. You can talk to a member of our team about this fantastic opportunity by calling 01429 891444, emailing us admin@changingfuturesne.co.uk or dropping us a message on Facebook

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