CAVOS
Supporting Voluntary and Community Action
Our Services & Support
CAVOS provides a range of services and support to community and voluntary organisations within the former 'Sedgefield Borough' area to help them manage and develop their activities.
The services and support provided by CAVOS are identified by community and voluntary organisations and will change to meet the needs identified at the time
The services we provide are delivered by a team of skilled, experienced and dedicated staff. (See ‘The CAVOS Team’ page). Many of the services are delivered by the CAVOS Development Team as part of the 'CAVOS Voluntary Sector Support & Development Programme’
About the CAVOS Development Team
Until March 2012 the Development Team will be working to deliver a wide range of support services in a way that is empowering to our users and that will help community groups and organisations to be sustainable in the long term.
This means that we will help groups and organisations to increase their skills and build their confidence so that they are more able to run effectively.
We aim to provide support in a holistic way which improves ongoing sustainability, knowledge, skills and confidence.
If you have any support needs or would like to know more about the 'CAVOS Voluntary Sector Support & Development Programme’ then contact our office
CAVOS provides a wide range of services under 5 key themes:
1) Development support
2) Funding & planning support
3) Advice, information & resources
4) Training, seminars & coaching
5) Volunteer Centre
1) Development support
Development support is varied and can be anything from setting up a new group to supporting existing groups to run effective meetings or register as a charity. Basically, through our development support services, we will help groups to increase their skills and build their confidence so that they are more able to run effectively. This includes:
- Regular information bulletins & newsletters
- Support to develop and adopt policies
- Support to be well organised and promote your group effectively
- Support groups with charity registration
- Support groups in consultation exercises
- Provide access to networks to ensure groups with similar aims can learn from and support each other
- Organisational health-checks
- A wide range of Governance support & advice
- Management Committee support and training
- Signposting
2) Funding & planning support
Planning is a key aspect of running an effective group or organisation and is essential when considering your future direction. The Development Team can provide a wide range of planning support dependent in line with your needs. From helping you to develop and action plan to Business Planning Coaching, whatever your planning needs, we can support you.
CAVOS provides extensive funding support which covers every aspect of your funding needs from basic advice to support to complete a funding application. This includes:
- How to access funding
- How to develop an idea into a project
- Monitoring & evaluation
- Reporting to funders
- DIY fundraising
- Guidance on alternative funding sources
- Training on a range of funding topics
- CAVOS4community – online funding search
3) Advice, information & resources
Advice and information is a key service that enables voluntary and community sector organisations achieve their goals and improve the quality of their services. We can provide advice on the majority of voluntary and community sector themes and issues and where we can’t, we’ll find someone who can.
CAVOS has a range of resources available for use by community and voluntary organisations. This includes a library of reference material on funding and good practice as well as display and presentation material.
CAVOS has a wide range of information booklets called ‘How to Guides’ that are produced in house and cover a wide range of topics. We also produce regular newsletters, e-bulletins and useful information that are mailed out to all members.
4) Training, seminars & coaching
CAVOS offers a range of training to help build the capacity of community and voluntary sector organisations. Some of our courses are accredited and all of our training is delivered in local accessible venues.
We also run a range of seminars and forums to increase knowledge and skills
Go to the CAVOS ‘Events and Training’ page for details of our current training programme and upcoming seminars. Contact us to find out more about our forums
5) Volunteer Centre
The Volunteer Centre is part of CAVOS and aims to promote and support volunteering. We believe that voluntary work provides a way for people to take an active role in their community and benefit themselves at the same time.
The Volunteer Centre provides a wide range of information for organisations seeking volunteers, individuals looking to volunteer as well as information on the wide range of opportunities available. We can also provide training to volunteers and the organisations who involve volunteers
Go to the ‘Volunteer Centre’ page for more information
Other Services
CRB Disclosure Service
If you have any staff or volunteers who have regular, unsupervised contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults (those who are less able to look out for themselves) then it is good practice to ensure that you carry out Criminal Records Bureau checks.
The Charity Commission and many insurers now ask if your group carries out the checks if staff and volunteers have access to these groups.
CAVOS is an umbrella organisation for the CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU and can work with you to ensure your checks are done if you need them and also provide you with policies on good practice.
You can download an information sheet on this service on the 'Online Resources' page
CAVOS Organisational File
The CAVOS 'Organisational File' is proving to be very popular with many groups telling us it's a fantastic tool that's doing wonders for their organisation!
The File is a collection of information on your group including your mission statement, policies, history of your group and why you were set up to mention but a few.
It’s simple to develop your own file and can completed at a time and pace that suits you.
Access to Services
Our main office opening times are:
Monday – Friday 9.00am – 4.30pm
Appointments can be offered out of office hours to suit you or your groups needs. Go to the 'Contact Us' page to find out how to get in touch with us
Volunteer Centre Outreach Sessions:
Newton Aycliffe:
Newton Aycliffe Community Learning Centre, Thames Shopping Centre
10am - 12pm: 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month
Ferryhill:
Ladder Centre, 5 - 7 Coniston Road
10am - 12pm: 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month