Support Bodies
for the sector
Updated 19/5/08
Follow the trail
This page
The number of groups that seek to support particular functions or issues within voluntary organisations has been growing slowly. Co-operation has also generally improved. While many of those listed operate on a membership or subscription basis, some useful info may also be available to non-members.
This page covers General bodies (including infrastructure support), the national sector support workstreams and Managerial support and development.
Elsewhere
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Function specific e.g. finance, charity shops, law. Also see Volunteering page for support agencies in managing/recruiting in this area.
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Our Local Contacts page has a couple of others which could also appear below: Action with Communities in Rural England and National Association for Voluntary and Community Action. You may find local support bodies there too.
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Issue based Support Bodies for particular subject areas, such as youth or advice services. The Areas of Concern pages are also worth checking out for sources of information, plus Resources for Community Groups (including community development) and Aid and Development Resources.
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Some general professional bodies are of particular interest to those in the sector, but don't have known charity/vol org contacts. See separate page.
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NCVO has an umbrella bodies directory, listed alphabetically or by broad categories.
Context
This is a listings style page, with Information Sources grouping.
National Sector Support
The six national 'Hubs of Expertise' for the sector in England, funded by Capacitybuilders under the government's ChangeUp programme, stopped work at March 08 (a couple run to June). The material produced is still available, currently on the original web sites:
- Finance Hub funding and income generation, financial management.
- Governance Hub, signposting Codes and standards of good practice.
- ICT Hub from ICT Consortium. Helpdesk phone 0800 652 4737, email: helpdesk@icthub.org.uk
- Performance (Improvement) Hub - creating better quality organisations and meeting more needs more effectively.
- Volunteering Hub, run by Volunteering England.
- Workforce Development Hub. Helpdesk phone 0800 652 5737, email: helpdesk@ukworkforcehub.org.uk
There are regional/local initiatives reflecting these, too, which are probably best found via the Regional sector bodies.
From April 2008, see information on the nine National Sector Support workstreams at Improving Support. Established by Capacitybuilders, the body charged with managing the government's ChangeUp funding to improve the capacity of the sector.
General
- National Council of Voluntary
Organisations (NCVO) For organisations in England with a national
or local remit. Its helpdesk is for anyone involved in the sector -
free phone 0800 2798 798, textphone 0800 01 88 111, email: helpdesk@ncvo-vol.org.uk.
It also holds conferences and seminars, produces a regular magazine
and sources discounts from various suppliers. Web site includes press
releases, events, contacts, with linked information site, askNCVO.
Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL, phone 020 7713
6161, email: ncvo@ncvo-vol.org.uk
- Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary
Action Events diary, current issue of NICVAnews, info on services,
etc. are online. 61 Duncairn Gdns, Belfast, BT15 2GB, phone 028 9087
7777, email: nicva@nicva.org
- Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
Web site has info on Voluntary Sector IT Network, database of Scottish
MPs/MSPs and other useful stuff. Produce weekly newspaper, and from
spring 06, have free helpline number 0800 169 0022, or use their AskUs
online form. Members can get discounts on SCVO training
and publications, various software, and also access to Pension Scheme
and Credit Union. Membership costs from £35 to £300, depending
on annual income. The Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place,
Edinburgh, EH3 6BB, phone 0131 556 3882, email: enquiries@scvo.org.uk.
Offices also in Glasgow and Inverness.
- Wales Council for Voluntary
Action Full membership £40.
Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF10 5FH,
phone 029 2043 1700, email: enquiries@wcva.org.uk. Offices also
in Colwyn Bay, Aberystwyth, Newtown.
- bassac 'supports and promotes
a multi-purpose approach to community development'. New address, June
05: 33 Corsham Street, London, N1 6DR, phone 020 7735 1075, email: info@bassac.org.uk
- Community Matters#
Exists to expand support provided to community organisations, and ensure
interests are represented locally and nationally. Specific expertise/training
in managing community buildings. 12 - 20 Baron Street, London, N1 9LL,
phone 020 7837 7887, email: communitymatters@communitymatters.org.uk
- Community Alliance is is a partnership of bassac, Community
Matters and Development Trusts Association, with a vision of community
anchor organisations in every neighbourhood.
- Ethnic Minority Foundation#
- Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO).
Boardman House, 64 Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 1NG, phone 020 8432
0300, email: enquiries@emf-cemvo.co.uk. Offices also in Manchester,
Bristol, Glasgow, Swansea.
- Black Training and Enterprise Group# (site
only works in IE?). "A networking organisation supporting over 600
third sector organisations across the country."
- Voice4Change England "A partnership of national and regional
organisations that speaks for the interests of the Black and Minority
Ethnic Third Sector at local, regional, and national levels."
- National Coalition on Black Volunteering. We think these details
are out of date: 35-37 William Road, London, NW1 3ER, phone 020 7387
1681.
- Black Voluntary Sector Network
Wales.
- Black and Ethnic Minority
Infrastructure in Scotland.
- For regional BME
networks, see the Links page on Black
South West Network#. For specific ethnic groups, see our Issue
based page.
- Women's Resource Centre Co-ordinating
and support organisation for voluntary and community projects that work
for and with women. 76 Wentworth Street, London, E1 7SE, phone 020 7377
0088, email:info@wrc.org.uk
- Consortium of lesbian,
gay and bisexual voluntary and community organisations. 2 Plough Yard,
Shoreditch High Street, London EC2A 3LP, phone 020 7422 861, email:
info@clgb.org.uk
- National
Umbrella and Resource Agency Forum For senior managers in sector
support bodies. Secretariat provided by NCVO.
- Second
Tier Advisors Network Flexible peer-learning environment for organisational development
workers in London.
- Professional Associations Research Network Membership body for professional associations.
Managerial support
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Action Learning for Managers is a partnership project between Black Training and Enterprise Group, bassac, Citizens Advice, DIAL UK and NACVS, which is also open to members of NCVO, WCVA and a few other bodies. It aims to increase management capacity in the sector and create opportunities for networking and joint working, by bringing together 'sets' made up of six managers and a facilitator for 7 sessions.
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Association of Charity Officers Body for "benevolent charities" (those providing aid and advice to individuals in need).
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Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO). Helplines on various issues and regular magazine and events. New address May 05: 1 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1NU, phone 0845 345 8481, email: info@acevo.org.uk.
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In Northern Ireland, CO3 (web site has a Belize address!) Chief Officers Third Sector, previously Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary Organisations. 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, phone 028 9024 5356. Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations, 20 Forth Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3LH, phone 0131 550 3712, email: office@acosvo.org.uk
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Charities Evaluation Services provides support on performance improvement. They supply PQASSO, the sector-specific popular quality system. See our quality management pages for more. Phone 020 7713 5722.
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Institute of Association Management (was Society of Association Executives). For senior staff responsible for the management, development and governance of trade bodies, professional institutes and other societies. 1 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9BT, phone 0870 330 8624, email: iam@secretariat.org.uk
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Institute of Public Sector Management# 'Serving managers in the public, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors'. Put on a range of workshops and courses, and there's also some interesting discussion papers online. Membership £53 p.a., phone 01204 410458 , email: info@ipsm.org.uk
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National Association for Voluntary Service Managers - see volunteer organisations.
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Voluntary Sector Management of Public Service Delivery Network Set up by NCVO and Futrebuilders England.
