What is CVS North Wiltshire
Council for Voluntary Service North Wiltshire (CVSNW) is a registered charity managed by a Board of Trustees and run by paid staff and volunteers. Our mission is to support, inform, develop and represent voluntary and community action in North Wiltshire. We are funded by Wiltshire County Council, North Wiltshire District Council and Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.
CVSNW operates as a traditional Council for Voluntary Service but also runs another two projects. CVSNW joined forces with The Salvation Army and set up a homeless drop-in centre in 2003 which is now a permanent project called Doorway. In 2005 CVS North Wiltshire secured a commission to run a CVS for the Bath and North East Somerset area (BANES CVS).
We co-operate with the CVSs in Kennet, Salisbury, West Wiltshire and Swindon and work closely with agencies representing local and regional government, health and education, as well as other voluntary organisations. Membership of CVS is free; there are presently 147 full members who range from local community groups to regional branches of national charities.
CVSNW operates as a traditional Council for Voluntary Service but also runs another two projects. CVSNW joined forces with The Salvation Army and set up a homeless drop-in centre in 2003 which is now a permanent project called Doorway. In 2005 CVS North Wiltshire secured a commission to run a CVS for the Bath and North East Somerset area (BANES CVS).
We co-operate with the CVSs in Kennet, Salisbury, West Wiltshire and Swindon and work closely with agencies representing local and regional government, health and education, as well as other voluntary organisations. Membership of CVS is free; there are presently 147 full members who range from local community groups to regional branches of national charities.
Development
CVS works with local people and organisations to identify gaps in services, and helps to develop new services to reflect needs that are not being met. We are able to offer flexible and responsive support to developing voluntary and community projects and organisations until they reach independence and beyond. We offer information and support face-to-face or by telephone on anything relevant to voluntary activity: if we don't know the answer we will know someone who does!
Information
CVS maintains an information database and holds a lending library. Through our regular newsletter, Network, and our fortnightly e-bulletin we are able to keep local voluntary groups informed of political, financial and other developments which may affect them. These include features on national, regional and local developments and trends, as well as notices of our own and other local events and training programmes. A quarterly Chairs’ Network newsletter goes out to chairs at their request.
We run a scheduled training programme specifically tailored to the needs of the voluntary and community sector and can offer bespoke specialist training if required (charges apply).
Representation
CVS ensures that the voice of the voluntary and community sector is heard and that local groups are empowered to take part in partnerships with statutory and other agencies. Our quarterly Voluntary Sector Forum feeds directly into and is represented on the North Wiltshire Partnership.
Volunteer Centre
We promote your volunteering opportunities on the national volunteering website at www.do-it.org.uk as well locally (e.g. in the Gazette & Herald).
Practical Support
CVS offers a range of support services to its members and other existing voluntary organisations. Simple practical help includes equipment for hire, photocopying services, colour scanning and other office services, room hire for meetings with provision of appropriate equipment, loan of books and other reference material and a variety of training from organisational management to IT skills. Our staff have a wealth of skills and experience which is available to support local voluntary action of any kind.
Networking Opportunities
CVS holds 9 annual events (4 Voluntary Sector Forums and 5 Community Lunches) to allow organisations to network and discuss issues that affect their work and the sector as a whole.
CVS also has an extensive network of contacts within many sectors of public life across the region. We are regularly involved in multi-agency working and have a broad understanding of the different roles and operating constraints of organisations from small local community groups to large statutory bodies.
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