About us
We provide information and support to voluntary groups and organisations and to individual volunteers across North Somerset.
We do this through 1:1 support, training, outreach sessions, information sheets and newsletters.
We also run a series of networks to help keep groups in touch with what’s happening in their areas of interest.
If you are running or thinking of setting up a voluntary or community group in North Somerset we can provide a range of information, advice and support on all aspects of this including:
- Business planning
- Committee roles and responsibilities
- Employment policies
- Financial management
- Funding advice and funding searches
- Health and Safety
- ICT advice and support
- Legal issues – CRB checks, insurance etc
- Recruiting and supporting volunteers
- Straightforward advice about Constitutions
We also provide opportunities to get together with others with similar interests. Currently we run the following networks
- for groups working with children and young people
- for groups interested in adult social care
- In-Step programme for leaders and managers.
In-Step is a new two-year programme of activities supported by CapacityBuilders, designed to develop our support for leaders and managers in voluntary and community organisations in North Somerset.
We are a Local Infrastructure Organisation. We provide development and support services to voluntary and community groups and to volunteers across North Somerset.
We are a member of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action and affiliated to Volunteering England – holding their quality accreditation mark. We hold the Investing in Volunteers Award and have achieved PQASSO Level 1.
As a Registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee, overall responsibility for VANS lies with the Board of Trustees who are elected by our members at the AGM held in November. The Board is bound by the articles of our Constitution, a copy of which may be seen on request.
We work in partnership with other voluntary and community organisations and with the statutory sector and local businesses.
Our aim is to improve the effectiveness of the voluntary and community sector in North Somerset.
We will do this by developing, improving and providing sustainable and effective services that:
- Increase the capacity of voluntary and community organisations to deliver effective services
- Increase the opportunity for individuals to engage in volunteering and community activities
- Empower voluntary, statutory and business sectors to work together