Our Services

CVS North Lanarkshire provides a range of services to the local voluntary sector, assisting them to become more effective and efficient and to develop best practice in their organisations.

Services range from business planning, information technology advice, funding and financial management, legal frameworks, monitoring and evaluation practices and employment and management.

Our services include:

Providing ongoing support and advice on funding opportunities, best practice in accessing funding and providing access to ‘funder finder’
Providing a wide range of training opportunities for staff and volunteers for voluntary organisations throughout North Lanarkshire.
Providing guidance on the many financial issues that voluntary organisations face such as record-keeping, accounts and quality systems.
Providing access to IT information, such as advice on purchasing software, web development and IT support.
Providing advice on employment and management issues and HR advice
Supporting voluntary sector organisations to develop their business plans
Providing a range of office services for voluntary sector organisations, such as photocopying, equipment hire, support for publicity materials and access to rooms for hire.

For more information on our services, listen to our recent Community Breaks slot on L107 radio.

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.

Attendance at range of partnerships groups (Routes to Inclusion, Social Economy Steering group etc) where policies and practices may be discussed.
Auditing the scope and impact of current good practice activity, developing an action plan to implement the findings of the audit
Development and distribution of good practice information, resource materials and guides
Direct face to face advice on range of good practice issues including finance, HR and employment and ICT
Carrying out organisational health checks and systems audits and supporting local organisations to develop responses to any issues identified
Promoting the uptake of quality indicators amongst the voluntary sector
Hosting or supporting training / awareness raising events and seminars to promote good practice

CVS North Lanarkshire acts as representative of the voluntary sector on a number of partnerships, strategy and implementation groups. This might 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 one organisation can ever hope to represent multiple views completely, but by active communication and consultation with the sector and developing intelligence on their needs, CVSNL aims to continuously improve its effectiveness.

Our work will include:

Participating actively in the North Lanarkshire Partnership and relevant sub groups.
Brokering meetings between Community Planning partners and the voluntary sector.
Facilitating the election for voluntary sector representatives for the North Lanarkshire Partnership.
Training and supporting partner organisations on effective engagement with the voluntary 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.
Work 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.
Contribute to national consultations affecting the sector both in its own right and through SCVO.

Our Services

See Also