It's five years ago this week since we reported how an online star had become the face of a new campaign to help children in foster care.

A Youtube sensation has joined forces with a children’s charity to pair up youngsters in foster care with positive mentors they can look up to.

Nego True of Leyton recently launched the campaign, run by Barnardo’s and the National Independent Visitor Network, with a video for his thousands of followers.

The musician and poet is calling on children and teenagers in foster care to sign up for the initiative and volunteers to give up their time to become positive role models for them.

Independent visitors, or IVs, are volunteers who are carefully matched with young people in care to build a positive, trusting and consistent relationship over the long term.

Nego hopes the video, produced with the involvement of children in care and with support from advertising agency Chapter, will help raise awareness of the vital role an IV can have in the life of a young person with no supportive family of their own.

“It’s difficult to build a future with people you don’t have memories with,” he said.

“Young people who aren’t able to live with their birth family need to look elsewhere to find that someone who can offer comfort and consistency, no matter what life throws at them.

“I hope I can help inspire more young people in foster care right now to exercise their right to ask for an Independent Visitor, and to know there are people out there who are ready to stand by them.”

Although all children in foster care are legally entitled to an IV, only three in 100 children in care in England and Wales are currently matched with a mentor and local services are often under-resourced or simply unavailable.

Walks in the park, days out and chats over coffee are among the experiences that a young person might share with their Independent Visitor, who will stay with them for years even as the child moves to a new foster home or changes social worker.

The video was launched in the Soho Theatre in Dean Street on September 9 with a live performance by Nego in front of an audience of young people and IVs.

Narin Cakir, team manager of the National IV Network, said the aim of the video is to reach the younger generation through social media.

Although services throughout the country are “incredibly under-resourced” she hopes the positive stories will encourage adults to sign up to become IVs.

She said: “I hope people share this film and help us spread the message that every child should have the opportunity to develop a meaningful and rewarding connection with an adult who shares their interests.”

Barnardo’s Chief Executive, Javed Khan, added: “Having access to this support system can really benefit a young person, so it’s great that Nego is helping us to spread the word and encourage more young people in foster care to ask for an Independent Visitor.”