CAVOS was established in 2000 to provide help, support and advice to community and voluntary groups, agencies and organisations across Sedgefield Borough.
CAVOS is an umbrella organisation for community and voluntary organisations in Sedgefield Borough.
To support the voluntary and community sector across the Borough of Sedgefield
Aim to achieve the mission:
The mission will be achieved by delivering the core functions of a CVS, to develop the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to engage in effective regeneration, partnership working, and sustainable development.
Our members
CAVOS provides help, support and advice to community and voluntary groups, agencies and organisations in Sedgefield Borough. Membership of CAVOS is free and open to all community and voluntary sector groups and agencies working in Sedgefield Borough.
What does CAVOS do?
CAVOS provides a range of services and support to community and voluntary organisations within the Borough to help them manage and develop their activities.
The services we offer depend on each organisation's needs. 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.
Information and advice
Information and advice is a key service that enables community and voluntary sector organisations achieve their goals and improve the quality of their services. Key activities include: help to access funding, support with Charity Commission applications and returns and advice and help to draft constitutions and develop Management Committees
Funding Advice Service
Resources
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 produces regular newsletters and information sheets that are mailed out to all members.
CRB Disclosures
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.
Training
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.
Volunteering
The Volunteer Centre runs from CAVOS office and from outreach locations in Newton Aycliffe, Trimdon, Ferryhill and Shildon. Volunteer Centre staff offer support and advice to agencies seeking volunteers and to individuals who want to volunteer.
The centre offers an extensive range of volunteering opportunities and a matching service to help both agencies and individuals.
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.
Email us: enquiries@cavos.org.uk
Volunteer Centre Outreach Sessions:
Newton Aycliffe Community Learning Centre, Thames Centre, 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, 10am—12noon
Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month, 10am—12noon
Ladder Centre, Ferryhill, 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 10am—12noon
Trimdon House, Landreth Grove, 1st Wednesday of every month, 10am—12noon
Confidentiality
Our work with individuals or groups is confidential, which means whatever we talk about is kept within CAVOS.
However if you tell us something that is about harming yourself or others we will have to pass this information on by law
CAVOS is committed to promoting Equal Opportunities. It is our policy to ensure that no one:
receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of disability, age, gender, ethnic background or membership of any minority group
is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
CAVOS welcomes all comments and suggestions and tries to take account of these where possible when evaluating our services and planning for the future. We actively encourage feedback from service users who can do this by writing to us, email or fax using the downloadable form below:
Comments and Compliments Form
CAVOS Compliments Comments & Complaints leaflet
CAVOS aims to provide a quality service to all who access it's provision, however if you do not feel satisfied with the service you have received please contact the Chief Officer on 01388 811115.
CAVOS Complaints policy
CAVOS Strategic Objectives
Strategic Objective 1
Develop CAVOS as a strategic infrastructure organisation with the capacity and sustainability to effectively deliver its core services
Strategic Objective 2
To deliver support to the voluntary and community sector to facilitate capacity and infrastructure development
Strategic Objective 3
To develop sound relationships with a wide range of partners from the statutory, voluntary and community business sectors to improve CAVOS’ service provision and role in regeneration and infrastructure development.
Strategic Objective 4
To promote voluntary action and develop the capacity of individuals, groups and organisations to participate effectively in volunteer development.
The Volunteer Centre is part of CAVOS and provides a range of support services for people who want to volunteer, and for agencies that involve volunteers. You can find lots of information about the Volunteer Centre and its services through the volunteering link on the left of this page.
