How volunteering changes lives: our latest DigitalMe for Nepacs
DigitalMe is our unique and award-winning programme which allows some of the most vulnerable people in our communities to tell their stories. The most recent project has shone a light on a vital service happening here in the North East delivered by the very brilliant people at Nepacs.
Nepacs is a North East charity which aims to promote a positive future for prisoners, offenders and their relatives by supporting family ties at every stage of the criminal justice system. A committed team of volunteers assist families in a number of ways and one of those ways is as an independent visitor to children within the care system.
The Independent Visitor Project is a befriending scheme for children and young people between the ages of 8 and 17 years old. Provided by volunteers, the service is designed to offer each child the chance to build a trusted friendship with someone outside of their day-to-day life. The project offers much needed stability for children and young people who will experience frequently changing placements and social workers.
So how does it work?
The DigitalMes we’ve made with Nepacs will give you first hand accounts from young people and their visitors about how the project works and you can watch them here:
It’s clearly having a profound effect on both visitors and young people with both parties reporting a growth in confidence and an increase in empathy and understanding.
“I’ve definitely become more confident with [my visitor] being involved.”
- Young person
“I would say that my confidence is being brought out as well as the young person that I volunteer for as well, even though obviously it's about her. She also doesn't realize how much she's helped me, with all of my confidence.”
- Visitor
This visitor also comments “Being an independent visitor has made me a lot less judgmental with teenagers”, which is then confirmed by the young person she visits: “I know I won’t be judged about anything”.
This rewarding project is always looking for new volunteers, in fact our very own Ronnie Johnson, who made these DigitalMe films, has already signed up - if you’ve been moved to do the same, click here.
If you think a DigitalMe would help you promote your organisation’s work or give a voice and platform to your service users, we’d love to hear from you.