Referral form and Information

Royal Borough of Greenwich Independent Visitor Service.

Firstly, Discover more...

If you want to understand more about the service please scroll down or download our helpful .pdf guide for Care Professionals supporting young people from the Royal Borough of Geenwich.

Make a Referral

Whilst we do need to collect information in order to accept the referral, we do not want form-filling to become a barrier! Therefore you have two options:

1) Contact Holly Carr 

Holly will be able to take the referral over the phone or email and will collect the information directly from you. Email [email protected] to start this process.

2) [Coming soon] Complete the online form.

For the quickest and simplest referral, click the button below to open up a simple online form. 

Who can you refer?

The Independent Visitor service is designed for looked-after children and care leavers aged 8 to 25 under the care of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

We especially welcome referrals for young people who:

• Are aged 8–25, with the capacity to engage in a one-to-one relationship
• Do not have regular contact with birth family or a stable adult outside the care system
• Are placed out of borough or experiencing geographical isolation. We will strive to find them an IV who lives locally, wherever they are in the UK.
• Are going through placement changes, school transitions, or preparing for leaving care
• Are unaccompanied asylum seekers, newly arrived young people, or those with limited social networks
• May be reluctant to engage with professionals, but could benefit from a consistent, trusted adult

While all referrals will be considered, we aim to prioritise young people who may be at risk of social isolation, reduced confidence, or who lack informal support networks.

If you’re unsure whether a young person is suitable, we welcome informal discussions before referral. Contact Holly at [email protected] 

What is an Independent Visitor?

An Independent Visitor (IV) is a volunteer who meets regularly with a young person in care, offering support, listening, and fun. They’re not part of the care system – they’re just there for the young person. Whether it’s grabbing a hot chocolate, visiting a museum, or chatting about life, IVs help build confidence, trust, and happiness.