Croydon's Independent Visitor service is part of Croydon's Council. The Independent Visitor (IV) Service is a statutory befriending service for young people in care which is 'in house'. Volunteer Independent Visitors (IVs) are recruited, trained and matched with a young person in care (in the care of Croydon's local authority) on a 1:1 basis. The aim is for IVs to develop a trusting and positive relationship with a child in care, and therefore provide stability and consistency in the lives of young people.

1:1 Visits take place once or twice a month between an IV and a young person, they go out in the community and do fun activities together like going to the cinema, restaurant, bowling etc (travel and activities budget fully reimbursed). IVs are essential as they provide young people in care with someone 'independent' ie. not a social care paid staff within their network with whom they can develop a genuine relationship. IVs are asked to commit for a least a year although many relationships between IVs and their young person last for much more than that.