My name is Matthew Farnham, and I work as a Project Manager at an environmental consultancy.
A surprising fact about me is that I was fostered between the ages of one and three – and I know the fortunate place I am in today is, in no small part, thanks to the countless selfless individuals who helped me grow.
There is a short answer to this question, and a longer one.
The short answer is that I believe it is what I would have wanted were I in their shoes – and I very well could have been.
The long answer is that there are numerous reasons why I decided to volunteer, and truth be told, it would be difficult to place greater importance on any single one – from wanting to give back, to building a consistent, positive presence in a young person’s life, to challenging myself personally.
Although I am usually very results-oriented and like to see progress sooner rather than later, spending time with my Young Person (YP) has, in many ways, forced me to step outside my comfort zone and slow down.
This is not a casual day out with your friends; it’s about learning from another individual who initially sees you as ‘another’ adult, but over time comes to trust you and confide in you.
It’s a proud moment when your YP is able to speak freely without judgement and no strings attached.
Unlike much of their structured life, this is a time when there is more room for ‘freedom’, allowing them to be curious and explore activities without the pressure of their classmates, parents, and other educators.
I try to think of a range of activities that places them in different settings, such as museums (for which we are blessed with innumerable different options), theme parks, Christmas markets, wildlife parks, cinema, but equally more chilled and relaxed activities, such as board games, making AI-generated songs, or having a McDonald’s as a treat.
This variety does keep me on my toes but also gets me to think about what activities I would like to do with my own children in the future.
One of the best places I have been to by far is the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield.
I have been there at least twice with my young person doing different activities each time.
Ultimately, the way I see it is that we all come from different walks of life.
There is a lot to be said about the challenges faced by young people with care experience – and the need, genuinely, to feel that they belong.
Being an Independent Visitor can play a vital role in creating that sense of belonging.
We can all play a part in helping make the life of a young person better, simply by being there, listening, and spending time together.
For as little as 1 hour a month, you can make a young person excited to spend time with you, and as far as value goes, this is very near the top.