Community Visiting Scheme

est. 2007

Director Introduction

Hi I’m Eleanore, I study Biology and I like movies, crafts & reading murder mysteries! I absolutely love CVS because it’s such a wonderful community, full of the friendliest people you’ll meet. It’s so rewarding building connections to the local elderly community, seeing how much joy it brings to both the locals and to students, and having a good natter over tea and biscuits.

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!