WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR ACROSS ABERDEENSHIRE

BRIDGE CVS and CVS Aberdeenshire - Central & South are the two Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) in the local authority area of Aberdeenshire. Together they are identified as the Aberdeenshire CVS Network (ACVS Network). In line with Scottish Government guidelines, their aims are:

THRIVE: Direct capacity building support to community and voluntary organisations

CONNECT: A catalyst for effective engagement between the community and voluntary sector and the local decision-making and planning structures.

Across the Network, local CVS deliver a range of services to meet local need beyond the core work of Thrive and Connect including projects that tackle local transport inadequacies, reduce social isolation and increase employability of local people as well as holding key information and knowledge of the voluntary and community sector in Aberdeenshire.

Current joint projects include:

CVS Training Initiative - provision of training locally for the whole of the community sector and partners.

Pilot Training Forum - bringing training partners from across Aberdeenshire together.

Signposting project - volunteers placed in GP surgeries supporting people with mild to moderate mental health issues.

Aberdeenshire Voluntary Sector Database - holding key information about the 3 rd sector in Aberdeenshire.

Developing a network of vol heath orgs contributing to and influencing the wellbeing of Aberdeenshire with reference to the Community Health Partnership.

The two CVS are independent charitable companies limited by guarantee.

Joint Mission Statement

It will be normal practice for the ACVS Network to work together in partnership to support existing developments and projects and to encourage new joint initiatives through the sharing of resources to attain "best value" for the voluntary and community sector in Aberdeenshire.

Through sharing skills and expertise ACVS Network will utilise existing resources and develop and explore new resources in order to maximise their potential.

The principles that underpin the relationships within the ACVS Network are: