Intro
We are an independent, non-political organisation and our aim is to promote the effectiveness of local groups and organisations by providing support services including information, advice, training, and material and practical assistance.We act as the community's development agency identifying new needs and developing initiatives for meeting these.
We promote partnership between the statutory and voluntary sectors in the delivery of welfare and other services and support innovation, accountability and good practice in local services.
We encourage, provide and promote opportunities for local groups & organisations to put forward their views on local and national policies and decisions affecting them, enabling increased use of such forums by local and national government for consultation within the community.
We aim to provide these supports in a close working and caring relationship with individuals, groups and communities in an open and flexible way and always challenge inequality in all its forms.
To sum up-we are enablers and facilitators!
Since its establishment in 1976, C.V.S. Rochdale has been involved in setting up the Law Centre, the Victim Support Scheme and many other initiatives and it works constantly to achieve equal opportunities for all the citizens of the borough.
Some of the practical ways in which we try to meet our aims are:
- by providing an accommodation address, contact point and meeting place
- by providing a facility to run elections and assist with grievance disputes in a non-partisan capacity
- to act as a contact point for volunteers seeking opportunities within the borough; publicising the scope & variety of volunteering opportunities and acting as an agency finding volunteer support for both the voluntary and statutory sectors
- by assisting with starting up new voluntary sector groups and helping with their minutes, records and administration where requested
- by providing assistance to voluntary groups in identifying possible sources of funding and with the preparation and submission of funding applications using where appropriate the "Funder Finder" computer package
- by providing advice and practical assistance in the development of voluntary sector groups to full legally constituted bodies and as registered charitable groups
- by providing advice and contacts to assist voluntary organisations with legal liability and insurance matters
- by attending voluntary and statutory sector meetings as necessary, in an observer/advisory capacity
- by circulating information throughout the voluntary sector, other interested parties and individuals on a Borough wide basis by the regular publishing of our newsletter, BULLETIN
- by facilitating a number of forums, both general and of specific interest allowing voluntary and community sector representatives to come together to discuss issues of concern. The forums currently include: The General Forum, The Training Sub Group, The Community Base Liaison Group, The Children's Sub Group.
Free membership of C.V.S. Rochdale is open to all community and voluntary sector groups working for the benefit of the people of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.