VCFA provides volunteering and development support to the VCF groups in Bury, enabling them to enhance the quality of life for local communities. VCFA also promotes the VCF sector and advocates on its behalf at a strategic level with other stakeholders, and act as a catalyst for the wider involvement of the VCF in service delivery and the decision making process.

Vision

To enhance the quality of life of local residents by supporting a thriving community & voluntary and faith sectors in Bury.

What we do

I.       Voice of VCF sector - Networking

a.    Provide a 2 way dialogue between the VCF sector, commissioners and statutory agencies;

b.    Act as the  VCF sector representative at a strategic level

c.    Represent the interests of the VCF and its members through strategic meeting/networks and partnerships;

d.    Support and influence local voluntary sector strategy.

II.     Information

a.    Collate and disseminate information to and from the VCF Sector;

b.    Provide VCF organisations to collaborate, develop partnerships share good practice, experience and information;

c.    To collate feedback from the VCF on local issues, needs assessments and ensure stakeholders are kept informed.

III.   Support

a.    Provide advice and support to VCF organisations with access to funding sources and bids for local projects;

b.    Support and promote volunteering and promote good practice;

c.    To provide learning and personal development opportunities for VCF staff, trustees and volunteers;

d.    Act as prime contractor to facilitate VCF involvement in contracts for service delivery.

IV.    Enable

a.    To enable smaller VCF groups to participate in tendering/contracting by acting as a prime contractor on their behalf;

b.    To administer funding on behalf of smaller VCF groups;

c.    To lead on or co-ordinate joint applications between groups to access funding;

d.    To manage projects and developmental work relevant to VCF.

How we do this 

a)    Development Support – Funding, quality assurance, advice, mentoring, business planning, policies, procedures, governance, legal and financial issues etc.

b)    Information Dissemination – Provide a 2-way dialogue between the VCF and stakeholders; disseminating information to the VCF and feedback to stakeholders from the VCF.

c)    Commissioning Support – Act as a Lead Consortia Provider to help VCF organisations secure tendering opportunities and support VCF consortia and delivery partnerships development. 

d)    Representation – Advocate the interests of the VCF at a strategic level in partnerships and networks locally and regionally across Greater Manchester.

e)    Volunteering – Promote volunteering, and promote volunteering opportunities, and a brokerage service matching volunteers to suitable vacancies.

Our current services

a)    Organisation Development Support – Advice and support on how to better manage and run your organisation.

b)    Funding Database – Access to our funding database of opportunities available nationally.

c)    Grant Funds – Manage local grant funds to provide local funding opportunities.

d)    Bury Community Fund – Develop a local grant funding pot through Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships with the private sector.

e)    Good Practice Guides – Online self-help guides on governance, finance and management business planning.

f)    Volunteering Support – Publicise volunteer vacancies/opportunities; Help recruit volunteers and promote volunteering.

g)    Lead contractor – Act as a consortium lead to secure tenders and help smaller groups. 

h)    E-newsletter – Keep the VCF sector up to date on local issues; volunteering and funding opportunities.

i)     Strategic Representation – Act as the voice of the VCF at strategic meetings and networks in Bury and Greater Manchester.

Membership

Membership is open to all VCF organisations based in Bury.   Associate membership is available to VCF organisations working in, but not based in Bury.

Contact us at admin@buryvcfa.org.uk

Sign up for our newsletters – www.buryvcfa.org.uk

Tel: 0161 518 5550