WCVA services

WCVA is active in a wide variety of areas and many of its existing services will be of relevance to trustees and their governance obligations. Below is a brief description together with links to further information and the service or product itself:

WCVA information

WCVA provides a number of funding services ranging from information sheets to specialised Grantfinder funding searches for members. It also produces information sheets on a variety of topics which are always useful for trustees, these can be download from the information section or can be e-mailed out on request. WCVA also produces a number of publications of interest to the voluntary sector which are avaialble to download or purchase via the website.

For further details visit www.wcva.org.uk or contact WCVA Helpdek on 0800 2888 329 or via e-mail help@wcva.org.uk

WCVA Criminal Records Unit

CRU is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and offers a fully bilingual service, which is FREE of administrative charge, for all voluntary organisations within Wales.

The CRU helps voluntary organisations to make informed recruitment decisions based on CRB checks for volunteers and paid staff recruited into positions which involve working with children and vulnerable adults.

For further information tel 08702 416 557, email cru@wcva.org.uk or visit www.wcva-cru.org.uk.

WCVA Grants

WCVA manages a range of grant schemes as well as a loan package that support local voluntary organisations, communities and volunteers throughout Wales, with funding from charitable trusts, the Millennium Commission, the National Assembly for Wales, New Opportunities Fund and the European Structural Funds. Our schemes are safeguarding and increasing the overall funding available for the voluntary sector in Wales. Applications for grant aid and loan finance are considered by grant panels, whose members are drawn from WCVA’s Board as well as additional experts from the voluntary sector and other sectors. For further details contact WCVA Helpdek on 0800 2888 329 or e-mail help@wcva.org.uk

WCVA Communities Investment Fund

The Communities Investment Fund has been launched by WCVA in collaboration with its project partners, Development Trusts Association Wales and Wales Co-operative Centre, to make long term investments through a flexible loan funding package. This is supported by development grant assistance which is aimed at helping organisations towards loan readiness.

The Fund will help build the sustainability of voluntary organisations and community based social enterprises located in Communities First Objective One areas which are unable to raise sufficient funding from more conventional sources. This is a key strand in the Welsh Assembly Government’s programme to address social exclusion, and will be achieved by helping to develop business capacity to generate income, by raising the level of business skills in managing assets successfully, and by encouraging the running of good quality business operations. For further details contact WCVA Helpdek on 0800 2888 329 or e-mail help@wcva.org.uk

Sustainable Funding Cymru

Sustainable Funding Cymru offers practical help and support to voluntary and community organisations in Wales with an interest in developing a sustainable funding approach. This is to be achieved by offering a combination of specialist training, advice, support and information services.

Working in partnership with county voluntary councils (CVCs) and other umbrella bodies, the initiative will equip organisations with the skills and information to secure and maintain the resources they require in the long-term through diversifying their funding ‘mix’.

Sustainable Funding Cymru will deliver:

• A dedicated website to access comprehensive information on the various sustainable funding methodologies, guidance, case studies, source of further help and other resources, tailored to Wales.
• Participate in a modular sustainable funding training programme, directly delivered by WCVA and cascaded through the CVCs and other umbrella organisations. Providing delegates with an understanding of each methodology and how it can be implemented.
• Access to advice and development support for around 30 organisations that have attended training courses. Be able to put into practice sustainable funding strategies for their own organisations.

The project is supported and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Find out more by contacting Sara Carroll and Nicola Llewelyn on 01570 424175/6 or scarroll@wcva.org.uk and nllewelyn@wcva.org.uk

WCVA membership

Over 1,500 voluntary organisations take advantage of the information, news, funding updates and cost savings they receive as part of the benefits of full membership with WCVA.

Full membership starts at just £25 per year and includes: a twice monthly voluntary sector magazine, fortnightly members' e-briefing, separate fortnightly Trustee and Volunteer News publications, and personalised grantfinder searches. Members are also entitled to discounts on: computer software and hardware, telecommunications, translation services, insurance, corporate products and publicity materials.

As a WCVA member, you will be consulted regularly on a range of issues and your views conveyed to key decision makers and invited to regular policy briefing seminars to convey the anticipated impact of future government policies or legislation affecting the sector. You will also be represented at all levels of Government and with major funders, as part of WCVA’s role to its members and the sector at large.

For a membership application pack contact the Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 or e-mail help@wcva.org.uk

WCVA Policy and Research

WCVA Policy and Research aims to influence policy in a wide range of subject areas by identifying and representing the views of the sector. Keep on top of policy developments in your area of work by referring to WCVA's wide range of regularly updated briefing papers, recent consultations and specialist information bulletins.

Volunteering

WCVA Volunteering is for those with responsibility for managing volunteers or for anyone with an interest in volunteering issues. Keep up to date on volunteering news, information regarding the management of volunteers and details of the Investing in Volunteers quality assurance programme.

WCVA payroll giving service

As part of its commitment to the sustainability of the sector, WCVA’s Giving Wales project delivers a payroll giving service, advice and training to charities wanting increase their income tax-effectively.

WCVA is registered by the HM Revenue to provide a complete Payroll Giving Service to any employer in Wales enabling their employees to give to their favourite charity, tax-free.

They can provide workshops, half-day seminars, or displays at funding fairs, which between them cover every aspect of tax-effective fundraising. For further information contact Iestyn Evans on 029 20 431777 or via e-mail ievans@wcva.org.uk

WebSpring

Could your organisation or community group benefit from having a website? Do you already have a website, but are thinking about improving it? If the answer to either of these questions is ‘yes’ then you may be interested in learning more about a brand new service from WCVA.

Since last year WCVA, in collaboration with one of Wales’ leading companies, has developed a website development package called ‘WebSpring’ which has been adapted specifically to provide voluntary organisations with cost-effective, professional websites.

WebSpring websites have a modern look and feel and can incorporate any existing branding. Bilingual sites can be created and include the following sections: news, jobs/volunteering, training, events, search, interactive forum, links, frequently asked questions, resources, documents and images, newsletter sign up and sitemap. To view an example website and see how WebSpring looks, visit www.webspring.org.uk

If you would like to find out more about WebSpring please contact Mark Condron on 029 2043 1700 or email webspring@wcva.org.uk