A Charity for Charities (From Watford Observer)

A Charity for Charities

4:22pm Thursday 16th July 2009 in Watford CVS

The Watford Council for Voluntary Services (Watford CVS) is one of hundreds of Councils for Voluntary Services (CVS) across the country. They are registered charities answerable to national authorities including the Charity Commission.

Watford CVS has been strengthening Watford’s voluntary community since 1974. Of the 400 or so voluntary organisations in the town, over 130 are already members of the CVS, benefiting from priority access to the usually free services provided. The work includes giving advice on all aspects of running a voluntary group, issuing regular publications, offering voluntary sector training programmes and helping to identify potential funders. Watford CVS also runs the Volunteer Centre which finds volunteers for members and visa versa. There are regular networking lunches and a Trustees Network where organizations can exchange ideas.

The CVS took the lead in recently creating a website which can be used by individual voluntary bodies in Watford to promote themselves to the public and other organizations. For details visit mywatford.net.

As well as helping members Watford CVS also works with the statutory and commercial sectors to try to improve life for the people of the area. By law, no CVS is allowed to give money on a regular basis to other charities, but can provide one-off grants e.g. to help set up a new voluntary organisation. If you think Watford CVS could be of service to your organisation or if you would like more information about mywatford.net, please contact them on 01923 254400 or email enquiries@watfordcvs.net or visit www.watfordcvs.org. They can be found at 149 The Parade, Watford WD17 1RH.

It’s our community – let’s make it better!