Objectives and Activities


Main services and some key achievements against objectives in 2006/07


NCVS has in recent years prepared a separate annual review setting out our services and achievements which has been issued at the AGM. This year we are replacing the annual review and investing in a new website which will contain all the information previously contained in an annual review. The website will be launched at the AGM.

Our key aims and activities for 2006/07 were:

Work with Groups
NCVS has assisted groups to improve their governance and management by running governance workshops for trustees and also sessions for organisations in recruiting and retaining trustees. NCVS has assisted and encouraged organisations to achieve quality standards such as PQASSO and Investing in Volunteers awards. Our Change Management and Information Development Team have supported groups across the city with health checks, constitution reform, promotional support, ICT strategy and many other capacity building initiatives.

The Volunteer Team is actively training and assisting organisations in their recruitment and management of volunteers. This has been achieved through setting up a Volunteer Co-ordinators and Managers Network that seeks to improve communications and peer support through the 82 organisations that are currently members. Volunteering opportunities are promoted through the volunteer centre. 643 opportunities were listed in March 2007. The opportunities are categorised in accordance with the National Volunteering Database that lists 32 areas of interest and 36 types of activity. All these areas and types of activity were covered in the range of opportunities listed

The Information Department has launched a new easy to use library resource that is finding a great deal of use with both groups starting out and more mature organisations needing research facilities.

Our organisation continues to raise local group's awareness and knowledge of local and national policies together with voluntary sector specific issues through newsletters in paper and electronic formats. 766 groups receive our e-bulletins. Recently NCVS has highlighted the campaign to stop Lottery money being diverted to the Olympics and also the consultation process around the draft local compact.

Another major aim in this year has been to improve the financial sustainability of groups in Nottingham. We are achieving this in a number of ways for example, by assisting groups with their applications to a small grants programme. Our assisted groups have had a 91% success rate compared with unassisted groups who have only achieved a 53% success rate.

Work with Individuals
Our work with individuals has resulted in a regular progression of long term unemployed and asylum seekers into employment or training. Our volunteer centre continues to attract a diverse range of individuals to access volunteering opportunities.

NCVS is currently working with several diverse client groups through programmes such as Time Together (refugees), Asylum Seekers into Volunteering and Volunteering into Employment. In addition to accessing volunteering opportunities individuals can receive Information and Guidance to have help with entering learning or work.

Through volunteering our clients have become more engaged with community and social activities and as a result have increased their confidence and motivation to seek out employment or learning activities.

Work on Policy and Partnerships
During the year to 31 March 2007 we have been co-ordinating the compact work for the sector, running consultation events and operating as a point of contact for all feedback. As a result we have received a pledge on reviewing the consultation and engagement arrangements between the City Council and the sector.

We have been active in assisting in the setting up of an infrastructure organisation for volunteers - Volunteering Nottinghamshire. We allowed an experienced service manager to take a career break to serve as Chief Executive in the initial stages and have facilitated the growth of the organisation by providing management, administration and ICT support. In addition we have been instrumental in facilitating the embedding of volunteering activists in our local area partnerships.

NCVS continues to promote increased contributions to the delivery of partnership agendas through such activities as working with other CVS organisations to deliver training and recruitment events, participating in the Digital Challenge team, chairing Enable and exploring mainstreaming options for current projects with the PCT.

In order to increase the effectiveness of the voluntary sector representation on relevant partnerships we have set up induction sessions and information packs for representatives and linked them to a named contact within Community Network.