Volunteering England has
called for substantial investment in the modernisation of volunteer
centres in its submission to the Treasury Third Sector Review.
NAVCA has supported this call in its own submission to the
Treasury.
Volunteering England has suggested that there should be one
accountable body for volunteer centres in each two-tier or unitary
authority with a range of local delivery points. NAVCA agrees that
in some counties there is a need to reduce the number of separate
volunteer centres. Both Volunteering England and NAVCA are agreed
that the existing providers, in consultation with their funders,
will make the decision about how best to deliver volunteering
infrastructure functions across the two-tier or unitary area. This
may or may not reflect existing patterns of delivery, but any
changes will be locally owned, managed and led. In counties where
the existing pattern of provision is coherent, strategic and
sustainable there will be no case for change.
The
Memorandum of Understanding between NAVCA and VE makes it clear
that neither organisation seeks to impose any particular structure.
Whether volunteer centres are independent or integrated within
local infrastructure organisations is a matter for local
determination.
As the Volunteering England response makes clear, change will
take time - it needs to take account of 'local arrangements and
aspirations, budgetary constraints and the development of working
arrangements between volunteer centres and local government
bodies.' Both NAVCA and Volunteering England are agreed that
solutions must be locally determined and not imposed.
Kevin Curley
Chief Executive
6 November 2006