Community Visiting Scheme
est. 2007
Director Introduction
Hi, I'm Grace! I'm a final-year Physics student at Durham University and the Outreach Director for CVS. I love bringing people together and helping students make a positive impact in the local community. CVS is such a welcoming society, and it's incredibly rewarding to spend time with older members of the Durham community through our coffee afternoons and home visits. Whether it's sharing a cup of tea, playing games, or simply having a chat, it's amazing to see the friendships that develop and the difference even a small amount of time can make.
Overview
Van Mildert's Community Visiting Scheme (CVS) aims to tackle loneliness in the local elderly community by facilitating meaningful connections between students and elderly residents, fostering companionship and a sense of belonging.
Motivation
CVS is a wonderful opportunity for students to give back to the local community, and is a lovely, friendly, and inclusive space for students and residents alike.
What we do
We host monthly coffee afternoons and social events that offer a relaxed and friendly space for students and older members of the community to chat and connect.
Student volunteers also have the chance to take part in home visits, calls, or letter writing. Home visits take place in pairs and give students the opportunity to visit someone they’ve met at a coffee afternoon for a chat and a catch-up, while calls and letter writing can be a more informal way for students to build meaningful connections and address social isolation.
Outcomes
The elderly people we visit enormously appreciate the project, and look forward to the sessions. They enjoy talking to the us, especially as they wouldn't normally interact with students, and always feel much happier after our visits.
We hope to see new volunteers join this fantastic project!
