Route1 Advocacy and Independent Visitors service

Want to be part of an Outstanding volunteer service? Then Route1 is looking for you!

Route1 Advocacy and Independent Visitors service supports children and young people who are in care or have a social worker. They do this by matching volunteers with young people as either short term Advocates, or longer term Independent Visitors.

The service recently had an independent internal review and was graded as Outstanding; and was shortlisted to the final 3 in the Frontline National Award 2024 ‘Team of the Year’

Route1 helps children have happy childhood memories, and ensures their views are listened to and acted upon.

• Independent Visitors: These volunteers make a long term commitment to one child in care. They visit the child once or twice each month to build a trusting, supportive relationship and friendship that can sometimes last many years. This can bring life-changing experiences and opportunities to a the child or young person – and their Independent Visitor!

• Advocates: volunteers work alongside individual children to ensure their voices are heard, and their wishes and feelings are taken into account when decisions are being made which affect them. Each child’s support is usually short term and there is no expectation of a long term commitment to any particular child.

A recent trainee volunteer said “I started out thinking ‘what on earth can require 5 days of training?’ I now know why and think you have it just right.”

Your life experience will be highly valued and you will be trained and supported in developing key skills. Your volunteering can be arranged to suit your availability.

F or more information about Route 1 Advocacy and Independent Visitors, you can contact us by emailing: route1advocacy@somerset.gov.uk, calling 01749 822801 and our website is www.route1advocacy.co.uk