National IV Network

NIVN is celebrating its 10 year anniversary! From 2025, NIVN will enter a transitional period led by the Steering Group, to progress incorporation of NIVN as an independent legal entity and fundraise.  To support this process, contact nationalivnetwork@gmail.com

🙌👁️NIVN in three words.... At our programme closure event, Independent Visitor professionals created a word cloud together to describe the network. 💓🌞Supportive, collaborative, friendly, helpful, impactful and informative came out on top.

A decade in numbers. Through influencing and good practice work, our network of over 200 IV professionals, IV Youth Champions and volunteer befrienders have worked tirelessly to tackle the postcode lottery of access to IV and strengthen the quality of IV provision.

Imagine having only a bag to represent 5 years of your life. For many children in care, this is their reality. At 16, all they have is a bag, but they carry the weight of countless struggles. Every year, hundreds of vulnerable young people leave the system like this. The Care Leavers Project will partner with organisations across the country to create opportunities and provide support in education, housing, and employment. We aim to help these teenagers chase their dreams and ensure no one feels alone. We need care champions in every sector.#ChildWelfare #SupportYouth #changeiscoming

Evidence, impact, influence. NIVN's annual conference this Thursday is co-hosted with @leedsIVscheme & will focus on these three themes. The conference brings IV practitioners together, to network & collaborate to open access to high quality IV for more children & young people.

Foster carers play a pivotal role ensuring care-experienced children have access to their rights, like Independent Visitor befriending. Hear from Gary, an IV Champion and foster carer. ivnetwork.org.uk/foster-carers-… @fosteringnet @TACTCare @barnardos

"It can make a difference to someone's day, just by sacrificing a bit of your time". Across #VolunteersWeek we are celebrating the Independent Visitor role befriending children in care. Hear from Troy @MyDoncaster Buddy Scheme - Troy youtu.be/d8tf_zzhnCc?si… via @YouTube

We couldn't be more proud of our volunteers and the work they do for care-experienced children and young people.💞 This #VolunteersWeek, we want to say thank you!⭐ Let us know in the comments what your favourite thing is about being a volunteer!👇🏽

#Volunteersweek "It's amazing watching them grow" Celebrating the contributions of Independent Visitors befriending care-experienced children and young people in the North of England. One theme celebrated was 'The Terminator'; with one IV befriending 7 children over 16-years!

During #NationalVolunteersWeek, we're highlighting the role of our independent visitors -who spend quality time with children in care who don't always have family visits. Could you give up your time for this vital role? Find out more here: ow.ly/8NE650RY7rk

#VolunteersWeek This week we celebrate the unique and transformational difference made by #IndependentVisitor befrienders to the lives of care experienced children. Interested in volunteering? Visit Home - National Independent Visitor Network (ivnetwork.org.uk)

#IndependentVisitor befrienders. Making a unique difference. Thank you!

Happy #VolunteersWeek 🎉Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who support The Children's Society. For over 140 years, we've supported the most vulnerable children in the country, and our volunteers are central to that. 💛 @NCVO #Volunteer

June marks the 40th anniversary of #VolunteersWeek. IV services are planning activity to celebrate the difference made by IV befrienders to the lives of thousands of children in care. Look out for penguin 'out and about' shots by IVs and their children to celebrate volunteering!

June will see the 40th anniversary of #VolunteersWeek. It was great to hear MPs support at a recent @HouseOfCommons debate on the contribution of volunteers to our country. We hope it encourages people to get involved and take part in #TheBigHelpOut.

"I come home so happy, feeling like I’ve done a good thing, and I know the child is saying positive things at home too, which is wonderful." - Casey, 44, is a crime author from London and volunteers as an IV. Read more of her story in @WomansWeeklyMag: gb.readly.com/magazines/woma…

Having an IV "..it's built his trust in other people. It's given him confidence, I think he feels more secure in relationships." Foster carer. ☝We are creating new web content with foster carers, for foster carers, to raise awareness of the IV role. @fosteringnet @TACTCare

Fantastic resource shared by @Become1992 on #CEHM #GoneTooFar is a constant challenge for #IndependentVisitor befrienders struggling to maintain relationships as children are moved away from their local areas. Stability and rootedness not rupture and displacement.