Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Encyclopedia
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) is the national membership organisation for the Third Sector and volunteering in Wales
. It aims to make Wales a better place by championing volunteering, voluntary organisations and community groups.
WCVA provides services and support to frontline charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteers, and represents its members views by lobbying decision makers at all levels.
WCVA’s membership consists of over 2,500 third sector organisations and is in contact with many more through national and regional networks. It can also boast many members from the private and statutory sectors who support its work.
WCVA is a member of the European Volunteer Centre
(CEV).
In Wales, there is also a county level infrastructure body. Each county has a County Voluntary Council
as well as volunteer centres. The equivalent infrastructure and representative body for voluntary organisations in Scotland
is SCVO. In Northern Ireland
it is NICVA and in England
it is NCVO.
WCVA has Facebook and Twitter pages, offering up-to-the-minute news and insight into the Welsh third sector:
WCVA's Facebook page
WCVA's Twitter feed
Since then, WCVA has promoted volunteering across Wales, launched the Wales Volunteer of the Year scheme, taken on the management of the Communities First Trust Fund and much more besides.
3to3 – the online marketplace for the Welsh third sector, allowing charities to sell goods and services to each other and the public.
Recruit 3 – a jobs site devoted to paid and trustee positions within the Third Sector in Wales.
Volunteering Wales – a website offering information and advice about getting involved in volunteering
Trustee Wales - a resource for those who have volunteered to take on the rewarding challenge of running a charity or voluntary organisation.
Intermediate Labour Market - The ILM scheme aims to reduce economic inactivity in the Convergence areas of North Wales and Regional Competitiveness and Employment areas of East Wales by investing European funds in organisations to provide paid work experience and training for people facing barriers to employment.
Gwirvol - GwirVol is a uniquely diverse partnership in Wales, for promoting, supporting and driving forward youth volunteering, led by the views of young people.
The Engagement Gateway - The Gateway aims to reduce economic inactivity in Wales by improving the employability of people who face barriers to employment and are furthest from the labour market.
Voices For Change Cymru’s aim is to connect third sector organisations with local and national decision making. It provides a range of services aimed at helping third sector groups understand how local and national politics works in Wales, how decisions are made, who makes them and how to campaign effectively to influence decision makers.
Environment Wales - Environment Wales is a partnership in the voluntary sector, funded by the Welsh Government. Its aim is to contribute to sustainable development by supporting and encouraging voluntary action to protect and improve the environment. WCVA is the initiative's Administrative Partner.
Communities First - Communities First is a National Assembly initiative, aimed at regenerating Wales' most deprived communities. WCVA is at the heart of the Communities First programme through the provision of formal advice and training to Communities First partnerships, as well as managing the Communities First Trust Fund.
Criminal Records Unit - Established in 2003, WCVA CRU is funded by the Welsh Government to help voluntary organisations and regulated care provisions for children under eight years old registered with CSSIW gain access to the CRB service for free.
Participation Cymru - Participation Cymru is a partnership of public and third sector organisations that is managed by WCVA. It provides innovative training, support, information and policy directions in participatory approaches to citizen engagement.
Helpdesk – a free service offering advice and information to all WCVA members and the wider sector.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It aims to make Wales a better place by championing volunteering, voluntary organisations and community groups.
WCVA provides services and support to frontline charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteers, and represents its members views by lobbying decision makers at all levels.
WCVA’s membership consists of over 2,500 third sector organisations and is in contact with many more through national and regional networks. It can also boast many members from the private and statutory sectors who support its work.
WCVA is a member of the European Volunteer Centre
European Volunteer Centre
The European Volunteer Centre ) is a European network of currently 88 mainly national and regional volunteer centres and volunteer development agencies across Europe and beyond that together work to support and promote voluntary activity. CEV channels the collective priorities and concerns of its...
(CEV).
In Wales, there is also a county level infrastructure body. Each county has a County Voluntary Council
County Voluntary Council
Every county in Wales has a voluntary sector infrastructure body, generically called a County Voluntary Council or CVC . The key role of a CVC is to provide advice and information to local voluntary and community groups on volunteering, funding sources and a wide range of other issues.At an all...
as well as volunteer centres. The equivalent infrastructure and representative body for voluntary organisations in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
is SCVO. In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
it is NICVA and in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
it is NCVO.
WCVA has Facebook and Twitter pages, offering up-to-the-minute news and insight into the Welsh third sector:
WCVA's Facebook page
WCVA's Twitter feed
WCVA’s History
WCVA was born in 1934 and known as the South Wales and Monmouthshire Council of Social Service. During the Depression, the Council funded district nurses at a cost of £100 a year, and supported co-op schemes to dig mountain coal and keep fit classes for women. In the following decades WCVA’s scope increased, and it supported the founding of organisations like Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and Disability Wales.Since then, WCVA has promoted volunteering across Wales, launched the Wales Volunteer of the Year scheme, taken on the management of the Communities First Trust Fund and much more besides.
WCVA projects and services
WCVA offers many services and opportunities to its members and the wider sector. These include:3to3 – the online marketplace for the Welsh third sector, allowing charities to sell goods and services to each other and the public.
Recruit 3 – a jobs site devoted to paid and trustee positions within the Third Sector in Wales.
Volunteering Wales – a website offering information and advice about getting involved in volunteering
Trustee Wales - a resource for those who have volunteered to take on the rewarding challenge of running a charity or voluntary organisation.
Intermediate Labour Market - The ILM scheme aims to reduce economic inactivity in the Convergence areas of North Wales and Regional Competitiveness and Employment areas of East Wales by investing European funds in organisations to provide paid work experience and training for people facing barriers to employment.
Gwirvol - GwirVol is a uniquely diverse partnership in Wales, for promoting, supporting and driving forward youth volunteering, led by the views of young people.
The Engagement Gateway - The Gateway aims to reduce economic inactivity in Wales by improving the employability of people who face barriers to employment and are furthest from the labour market.
Voices For Change Cymru’s aim is to connect third sector organisations with local and national decision making. It provides a range of services aimed at helping third sector groups understand how local and national politics works in Wales, how decisions are made, who makes them and how to campaign effectively to influence decision makers.
Environment Wales - Environment Wales is a partnership in the voluntary sector, funded by the Welsh Government. Its aim is to contribute to sustainable development by supporting and encouraging voluntary action to protect and improve the environment. WCVA is the initiative's Administrative Partner.
Communities First - Communities First is a National Assembly initiative, aimed at regenerating Wales' most deprived communities. WCVA is at the heart of the Communities First programme through the provision of formal advice and training to Communities First partnerships, as well as managing the Communities First Trust Fund.
Criminal Records Unit - Established in 2003, WCVA CRU is funded by the Welsh Government to help voluntary organisations and regulated care provisions for children under eight years old registered with CSSIW gain access to the CRB service for free.
Participation Cymru - Participation Cymru is a partnership of public and third sector organisations that is managed by WCVA. It provides innovative training, support, information and policy directions in participatory approaches to citizen engagement.
Helpdesk – a free service offering advice and information to all WCVA members and the wider sector.