About Us

Mission Statement

“By demonstrating, developing and encouraging leadership, CVS North Lanarkshire aims to ensure that there is a high quality, dynamic and effective voluntary and community sector in North Lanarkshire playing an effective role in improving the quality of life for all North Lanarkshire citizens.”

Company ValuesCVS Window

  • Pursuit of Excellence – Quality
  • Caring for People – Customer Service
  • Partnership – Communication & Collaboration
  • Prodigious Effort – Performance and Technical Ability
  • No Fear of Failure – Innovation

Core Objectives

  • To act as a gatekeeper to the local voluntary and
    community sector
  • To be a communicator
  • To be a service provider
  • To be an agent of change
  • To build capacity
  • To be a representative

History

CVS North Lanarkshire (CVS NL) was established in April 2006, and was the result of the merger of existing agencies in the local authority area. Originally based in Mavisbank Street, Airdrie with 5 staff, the CVS has developed up to a team of 20, and now operates from new premises in Stirling House. CVS NL provides a range of services to the local third sector, assisting groups and organisations to become more effective and efficient, and to develop best practice in all their activities.

Services offered by the CVS include business planning, ICT advice, funding and financial management, legal frameworks, monitoring and evaluation practices and employment and management.

Stirling House offices

Role of the CVS

A key role of any CVS is to develop the skills and knowledge of the sector locally, and encourage and support local organisation to show best practice in all that they do.

Given the regular changes in law in areas such as employment practice and financial management which affect voluntary sector organisations as much as other businesses, it is also essential that they are kept abreast of development and can remain within the law. The CVS will promote good practice through their own policies and procedures, through information and through training and advice.

CVS North Lanarkshire acts as representative of the voluntary sector on a number of partnerships, strategy and implementation groups. This may be done directly, through the use of a member of staff or board member, or less directly, by supporting member organisations to speak on behalf of the sector. Such representation, however it happens, helps to ensure that the voice of the sector is heard by partner organisations and can influence plans, strategies and services. No single organisation can ever hope to represent multiple views completely, but by active communication and consultation with the sector and developing intelligence on their needs, CVS NL aims to continuously improve its effectiveness.

The core work of the CVS includes:

  • Participating actively in the North Lanarkshire Partnership and relevant sub groups.
  • Brokering meetings between Community Planning partners and the third sector.
  • Facilitating the election for third sector representatives for the North Lanarkshire Partnership.
  • Training and supporting partner organisations on effective engagement with the third sector.
  • Participating on the Voluntary Sector Development strategy group, coordinating the conference and producing the annual report
  • Supporting other voluntary sector representatives who sit on partnership boards and groups, through the work of the VSD strategy group
  • Participating in the development of Community Learning Plans across North Lanarkshire, hosting events as required and disseminating information
  • Working with national voluntary organisations that have branches in the local area to ensure that the most appropriate people and organisations speak on behalf of, and represent the sector in partnership structures
  • Contributing to national consultations affecting the sector both in its own right and through SCVO

CVS NL currently has a membership of over 300 third sector organisations covering the length and breadth of North Lanarkshire. To find out how your group can join up, visit the membership page.

Links & Downloads

 

Council for Voluntary Service North Lanarkshire