Community and Voluntary Sector Capacity Building
Background
Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) receives funding through the Community Solutions programme to help us deliver capacity building support to the CVS so the sector is able to contribute more effectively to the improved health and wellbeing of residents and local communities through the following.
Provision of support and services to improve physical and mental health
Community wealth building to support social and economic inclusion
Protection and improvements to our natural environment, including climate action
The CVS capacity-building support and services provided by VANL includes the following.
Information provision through our “Working Together for a Better North Lanarkshire website, digital bulletins and social media.
Organisational development guidance on issues such as:
VANL staff also undertake organisational reviews of CVS organisations receiving funding through Community Solutions to provide appropriate due diligence checks and identify areas where they may require support on above issues.
VANL staff also support CVS organisations to share information, share learning and work together through:
Providing or facilitating access to training and informal learning
Convening and supporting the CVS Strategic Partnership Group and linked thematic networks on key issues such as befriending; mental health and wellbeing; employability
Organising regular events for the CVS, including locality meetings and an annual conference
Supporting CVS organisations to participate in our local partnerships and contribute to delivery of associated plans including:
- Our North Lanarkshire Community Planning Partnership, North Lanarkshire Partnership and its Plan for North Lanarkshire, associated North Lanarkshire- wide strategies such as the Tackling Poverty Strategy and nine linked Local Outcome Improvement Plans
- Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire partnership and its Commissioning Plan and linked strategies on Mental Health and Wellbeing; Alcohol and Drugs and the Community Solutions Strategy and Investment Plan
- The Children’s Services Partnership and Plan
Achievements 2022-23
VANL’s CVS capacity-building work was supported during 2022-23 with a £60,000 grant through Community Solutions, supplemented by core funding from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council.
VANL staff provided the following support to CVS organisations during 2022-23...
169 CVS organisations were provided with guidance on key issues to support their sustainability and effectiveness including income generation, governance, ICT, human resources.
Developed and launched a new, North Lanarkshire 'Fair Funding' charter for the CVS in November 2023.
Training was provided to over 182 CVS staff and volunteers on a range of topics such as child protection, mental health and wellbeing and climate emergency training.
Organised the CVS annual conference on the theme of community wealth building.
19 CVS funding e-bulletins were prepared and distributed - in liaison with HSCNL and council colleagues.
The CVS were supported to network, collaborate with influence policy and practice through the following CVS networks:
- Befriending
- Children, Young People and Families
- Community and Voluntary Sector
- CVS Partnership Group (CVSPG)
- Employability Network
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Network