COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SERVICES CHESHIRE EAST
Ashton House
1a Gatefield Street
Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 2JP
Tel/Fax 01270 211545
Historical Background
Crewe and Nantwich Voluntary Action was set up by local groups in 1977. Its aim was to coordinate voluntary effort and promote new organisations to fill gaps in local services. In 1945 individual CVS’s linked up to form a Standing Conference, serviced by what is now the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). The National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service (NACVS now NAVCA) was established as an independent body in 1991 and now has a membership of over 360 CVS or Voluntary Actions in England.
The Benefits of CNVA
Over the years, CNVA have been established in order to provide local benefits and to be responsive and proactive in its approach to:
* coordinating voluntary action
* promoting the establishment of new organisations to fill gaps in local services and meet new needs
* providing services to support the local voluntary and community sector
* acting as an advocate for, and enable representation by, the sector
* acting as a strategic partner for the sector
* Developing an infrastructure in order to give the voluntary sector stability, support, visibility and status.
Working style which supports participation by local groups
The structure of CNVA
CNVA has a clear structure, with a Trustee Board (volunteers) who are accountable for the work and strategic development of the organisation. The Trustees meet every two months. The Executive Committee meets twice a year and comprises of the Trustee Board plus representatives from the Borough and County Councils, and the Health sector. The statutory representatives are non-voting.
The Trustee Board members are nominated and elected at the Annual General Meeting. They are representatives of local voluntary and community groups who are affiliated to the organisation.
CNVA has an accessible office base at Ashton House in Gatefield Street which is in Crewe town centre. From this centre, work paid staff and volunteers. The centre has meeting rooms, office space, computers and equipment such as data projectors which can be used by members.
The Volunteer Centre is also in Ashton House and is responsible for recruiting and referring volunteers to local groups, including statutory sector organisations such as the local hospital.
Core functions of CNVA
Development
CNVA has a development role in relation to: identifying local need; working with others to develop appropriate local action; working strategically to benefit the local voluntary sector.
Liaison
CVNA develops has helped to maintain links with a wide range of voluntary and community organisations. These include user organisations and those representing the diverse communities which exist within the area. In addition, the task of CNVA is to promote cross-sector relationships including those with the relevant local authority departments; the health authority; social services and other public agencies operating within its locality, and the business world.
Enabling representation
As an independent, non-party political organisation, CNVA has a particular role in enabling the local voluntary and community sector to present its views to local authorities and other public agencies. This can be achieved by developing the practical means to communicate effectively, and access to:
- various local committees
- partnership bodies and working parties
- Local authority representatives and procedures.
- The Local Strategic Partnership
To achieve this, CNVA has developed effective consultation with the sector through forums, committees, seminars, or other consultative mechanisms. CNVA is transparent in the way it seeks, collates, and enables representation of the views of the sector.
Volunteer Centre
The volunteer centre works to national quality standards and is affiliated to Volunteering England. The Volunteer Centre is a part of CNVA and is well known in the locality as an information point about volunteering.
Support and services
CNVA is a key resource and information point for local voluntary and community organisations. Such support can make the difference between a community need being identified and responded to, or not. Support can be wide-ranging. Key elements include:
- funding information
- employment / financial services and advice
- legal / constitutional information
- meeting space and office accommodation
- office services
- regular mailings
- training and / or information about other training providers
- general advice and guidance
- Recruitment and placement of volunteers.
- Voluntary and Community Sector Forum - network meetings twice a year
Accountability
A CNVA has many stakeholders predominant among which are its members. Others include staff, funders, and users of local voluntary services, local authorities, and other public agencies which have a relationship with the local voluntary sector. However, CNVA is mainly responsible to its membership of voluntary and community groups and it is therefore important that its independence and integrity is clear to other stakeholders.
CNVA has a constitution which details the minimum requirements for accounting to these stakeholders, and which reflects the status of CNVA as a registered charity.