About Exeter CVS
Exeter CVS is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee which:
- encourages, supports and develops individuals, groups and organisations involved in voluntary action to help them work more effectively
- promotes and supports new initiatives which address areas of social inclusion, economic disadvantage and community development
- works in partnership with the public and private sectors in order to help develop a more just and caring society
Funding
Exeter CVS is grant aided by:
This funding is enhanced by other income generating activities including training, project management, payroll services and investments.
Additional funding has been attracted from a range of government departments, charitable trusts and private sector sponsorship in order to make the best use of local statutory services' funding.
Our Key Areas of Work
Supporting Voluntary Organisations
This is a central part of our work and ranges from giving information to the public about voluntary and community groups in Exeter, to providing advice on all aspects of running a voluntary organisation. We publish a regular newsletter and operate one of the largest voluntary sector training programmes in the Southwest.
Promoting Volunteering
We manage Exeter Volunteer Centre - the job centre for volunteering in the city. The Centre arranges volunteering opportunities with voluntary and community organisations as well as statutory services. It also runs special schemes for volunteers who may need extra support. In addition, the Volunteer Centre provides advice, information and best practice for organisations that involve volunteers.
Enabling Consultation
Our consultation work is a direct response to the needs of statutory services to consult local communities, voluntary organisations and users of services. More and more people are able to have a say in what their needs are and what services should be provided to them. We have helped to develop several advocacy schemes in the city.
Aiding Community Development
Our independence places us in a good position to bring people together to address the needs of a neighbourhood or a specific issue, test new ideas or help make public meetings work. We encourage networking between individuals and groups within the sector, and between local groups and the public and private sectors. This allows local groups to learn from one another, establish contacts and work more effectively. Exeter CVS also helps different communities to organise their own networking activity.
Giving the Voluntary Sector a Voice
We aim to foster a sense of identity and belonging. Organisations and individuals can feel stronger when they join together to speak about issues that affect them. We represent the interests of the voluntary sector on many strategic partnerships and take a lead to empower local groups to contribute to partnerships. It is important that the voluntary sector's opinion is known when others are making decisions that affect people in the city.
Annual Reports
Annual Report 2006/7
Read the Exeter CVS annual report online