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National Sector Support

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.

To March 2008, six national 'Hubs of Expertise' for the sector in England were funded by Capacitybuilders under the government's ChangeUp programme. We'll gradually remove the links here as they become obsolete, but material produced may still be available elsewhere - in particular the Improving Support website.

• Finance Hub funding and income generation, financial management.
• Governance Hub material via NCVO, Codes and standards of good practice.
• Workforce Development Hub - now see NCVO Workforce Development section.

There are regional/local initiatives reflecting these, too, which are probably best found via the Regional sector bodies.

General

National bodies

• 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. 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 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.

Community-level focus

• bassac 'supports and promotes a multi-purpose approach to community development'. 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 a partnership of bassac, Community Matters and Development Trusts Association, with a vision of community anchor organisations in every neighbourhood.

Gender, ethnicity etc

• 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

Supporting support

• National Umbrella and Resource Agency Forum For senior managers in sector support bodies. Secretariat provided by NCVO. Umbrellas Directory.

• Second Tier Advisors Network (via LVSC networks section) peer-learning network that provides a flexible learning environment to organisational development workers in London.

• Professional Associations Research Network Membership body for professional associations, increasingly international in scope.

Smaller organisations

The following were all new in 2008.

• Small Charities Coalition Aims to enable registered charities with an income of less than £1 million to gain from sharing experience and skills.
• Foundation for Social Improvement.
• NCVO's information and advice for Small Organisations seems to have gone with site redesign, autumn 2009.

Online

• KnowHow NonProfit is managed by City Centre for Charity Effectiveness Trust, part of Cass Business School, with lottery funding.
• Third Sector Forums. A volunteer run "community for charity professionals, volunteers and social entrepreneurs".

Managerial support

• Association of Charity Officers Body for "benevolent charities" (those providing aid and advice to individuals in need).

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• National Association for Voluntary Service Managers - see volunteer organisations.

• Public Service Delivery Network Set up by NCVO and Futurebuilders England.