CSV is running an innovative project which matches volunteers with families where there are children on the child protection register.

The Volunteers in Child Protection (ViCP) programme is a first for the UK and is being rolled out in Lewisham and Southend after a successful pilot in Bromley.

Bromley Social Services departments working with children on the Child Protection Register and Children in Need are using these very special volunteers to complement the relationships and activities of their staff and other professionals in relation to vulnerable children. Social workers do not always have time to visit families as often as they would like, nor have they routinely involved volunteers in work with vulnerable children.

CSV is responsible for recruiting, training, matching and supporting volunteers. It also monitors the extent to which they are able to support social workers in their professional task to help to keep children safe.

Research and outcomes of the pilot
In April 2007 Professor Jane Tunstill carried out research into the success of the pilot project run in Bromley and Sunderland. You can read her findings by downloading the executive summary report here [PDF document, 80KB].

In Bromley, of 10 families followed through from referral to living independently, no child was re-referred to SSD – the average in Bromley is an 11% re-registration rate.

You can get involved as a volunteer
CSV is looking for adult volunteers who can understand the difficulties faced by these families and to deal with them in a supportive way.

This is a demanding role, and volunteers receive training and ongoing support.

Volunteers offer help with improving parenting skills by way of providing a sound role model support and practical help to get families back on track. Volunteers will need the skill to work closely with social workers, and the time to visit their matched family several times a week for a minimum six-month period.

It is important that volunteers live within easy reach of these projects so that frequent visits to a family can be easily achieved. It also helps if the volunteers know about activities and services in the local community.

Speaking about CSV Volunteers in Child Protection, Tim Loughton MP and Trustee of CSV said, "This project demonstrates the effectiveness of enlisting local people to volunteer to support families in need and to help protect the lives of children. Volunteers offer luxury of focus and can dedicate time and commitment to a single child.

The project is a good example of how volunteers can add value to the work of professionals in public services such as children's and social services."

For more information please contact:
Sue Gwaspari, Director of CSV Part Time Volunteering on 01223 728460 or email sgwaspari@csv.org.uk.

For Bromley, contact Toni Rushton on
0203 364 6810 or email her at toni.rushton@bromley.gov.uk.

For Lewisham, contact Alma Imsirovic on
020 8314 7401 or email Alma.Imsirovic@lewisham.gov.uk.

For Southend, contact Jacki Simpson on
01702 534 205 or email jsimpson@csv.org.uk.