HVA offers one-to one advice and support to Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) on a range of issues. This support, along with our short course programme, is aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of people involved in starting and managing VCOs in order to increase their skills for community leadership, strengthen organisations and improve overall management quality.
We can also carry out an Organisational ‘health check’ with your group in order to provide a pro-active approach to the development of your organisation.
If you need specific support with managing your finances we can help you to sett up or improve your financial management and accounting sysytems. This may involve carrying out some remedial work to bring your financial management systems up to standard. You can also ask for a financial health check and independent examination where appropriate.
With the the range of legal structures open to the sector, including new Community Interest Companies, we can also help to make sure that you have the right kind of structures in place, help you deal with the different accounting procedures involved and keep you up to date with changes in charity law and accounting requirements.
If your group is able to demonstrate the organisation’s aims are for the public benefit and that it has an income of £5000 or more you are required by law to register with the Charity Commission. HVA can help you to clarify your aims and register with the Charity Commission or for further information and guidance you can visit:
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/
If you are a well established group you may be thinking of working to a recognised 'quality assurance system' in order to improve your performance. You may be interested in finding out more about PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisation). This is a formal management system you can use to strengthen your organisation. It is intended to raise standards of work and to make sure everything is done consistently. HVA is working to PQASSO and can give you further information or you can visit:
http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=1
HVA can provide you with information and training about the roles and responsibilities of trustees or management committee members, however if you wish to access some on-line resources you can find a range of useful materials on the National Council for Voluntary Organisations website at:
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/askncvo/TrusteeGovernance/
If you are interested in finding out more about our training courses the information is on the training pages of our website
http://www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org/index.php?q=taxonomy/term/10
To access specific funding advice please go to :
http://www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org/index.php?q=node/8
For support and advice on volunteer recruitment and management go to our volunteering pages
http://www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org/index.php?q=taxonomy/term/11
Inroduction to National Support
Capacitybuilders is a non-departmental public body managing the 'ChangeUp' programme and working with other funders to build the capacity of the Third Sector.
Improving Support is a joint initiative to strengthen the support services available to third sector organisations. It is co-ordinated by Capacitybuilders and funded through its National Support Services programme.
Briefing Papers
HVA also provides a series of Briefing Papers for organisations and groups, covering subjects relevant to the development of organisations in the sector.
