Welcome to VAC
Voluntary Action Camden is an independent voluntary organisation that exists to support, encourage, defend and develop voluntary and community action in the London Borough of Camden.
VAC works with voluntary and community groups to support their activities through co-ordination, liaison, representation, advice and information. VAC also provides a range of direct services to groups such as a payroll service, advice on employment policies and procedures and use of the GrantFinder™ database.
Take a look at What We Do.
Review of Third Sector Commissioning
LB Camden is undertaking a review of the way in which the council and its partners commission services and fund activities that are delivered by Third Sector organisations in Camden.
Consultancy Practice Perfect Moment were asked to independently facilitate a series of consultation events in connection with LB Camden’s Third Sector review. Follow this link for a draft of a short summary report (ammended version, Feb 1st) that reflects the comments made over the course of four events held in December 2009.
You can read VAC's response to this document here.
What's new at VAC
Responding to Change: Opportunities and Challenges
VAC's AGM will be on Monday 22 February 2010, 5.30 – 8:30pm - London Irish Centre, 50-52 Camden Square, NW1 9XB
A special mix of information and debate, food and live music. Follow this link for more details.
VAC Services Survey
VAC is keen to provide relevant and high quality services to the community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises of Camden. To accomplish this, we need to hear from you!
The questionnaire will take less than 10 minutes and your input is very valuable and important to us. Follow this link to take the survey.
Managing in Voluntary or Community Organisations
Operational Management - NOCN Levels 1, 2, & 3 with possible progression to level 4.
Fully and part funded places available on the course starting in January.
A course developed to give an opportunity to learn and practice the range of skills now required to manage the internal affairs of an organisation. Tutors for the course are current practitioners in the sector who deliver customised content that is particularly relevant to students and relates directly to their work experience, paid or unpaid. Further details are available here.
Free User Inolvement Training for Service Users
VAC in partnership with London Borough of Camden is offering FREE training courses for Pathways Service Users and Service Users of Drug and Alcohol Services in Camden. More…
Earning income through trading
VAC together with NCVO is offering a special training Earning Income through Trading, to all voluntary organisations seriously considering sustainability strategies, i.e. you are exploring trading as an income generating option. Participants should have a general idea of the trading option they want to develop to attend the training. The one-day course, will give you the skills and confidence to take the right actions. Two publications: ‘The Good Guide to Trading’ and ‘From Asking to Earning’ are provided free with the course fees of £58. Follow this link for more information and booking form.
Learning and Skills Council - update
The process of the demise of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has continued on schedule. Download an update here.
The Future of Community Premises
On 12 December 2008, Camden Council sponsored and jointly organised a conference for the local VCS - “The Future of Community Premises” – working with Voluntary Action Camden. You can download a full copy of the conference report here (pdf format), or a short version of the report is available here (pdf format)
Direction of Travel event
This year's Direction of Travel Event was held on 2nd October 2009 from 9am to 2pm at Holy Cross Centre Timebank Café, United Reform Church, 88 Tavistock place, WC1H 9RT. A report of the event will be available soon.
Funding in the Recession
The funding environment continues to be threatening for organisations during the economic downturn. Follow this link to see an extract from research conducted on what is available to support voluntary community organisations to survive through the recession.
Carbon Confident - Creating Carbon Confident SMEs in Camden
For whichever reason your organisation wants or needs to cut its carbon emissions, it can be difficult to know where or how to start. Carbon management is a new challenge requiring technical, environmental, and leadership skills. It can be confusing, especially for smaller and medium sized organisations that do not have inhouse environmental expertise. However, carbon management is painless if you know how and with training and support your organisation could see measurable reductions within months. Find out more here…
Better Governance Project : FREE training for management committee members or trustees
Wondering how to improve the leadership and governance skills of management committee members so your organisation can run smoothly.
Next rounds starting: September and November 2009
Enrolling now. More Information…
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Governance in regard to Operations Management |
Legal Duties of Trustees |
Partnership and Consortia working |
Leadership and Strategic Planning |
Developing a Fundraising Strategy |
Financial Management & Change Management |
Spring Day Time 10:00am-4:00pm |
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12 May 2010 |
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Autumn Evenings 5:30-9:00pm |
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Winter Day time 10:00am- 4:00pm |
9 Nov 2010
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Do you need a website?
Building on the successful partnership established between Voluntary Action Camden and Birkbeck College, we will soon be starting another round of volunteer recruitment from final year Birkbeck Foundation Degree in IT and the IT Applications Diploma students who need to complete a work based module. More …
VAC takes seat on new Camden Climate Change Alliance Advisory Board
A new multi sector advisory board has been formed in Camden to take forward the climate change agenda. More…
Consortium Development Workshop
As part of London LSC and London Councils' commitment to the development of the third sector to deliver public sector services, a programme of practical consortium development support has been commissioned by London LSC. More…
Membership
Join VAC today to benefit your organisation. Find out about services and special rates only available to members. More…
Mental Health Network
Your Chance to Influence Mental Health Service Provision in Camden. More...
From Grants To Commissioning.
The move from grant aid to commissioning is a policy being driven by central government. It is closely connected to the increasing role expected of voluntary and community groups in the delivery of public services, and a government vision that sees the promotion of voluntary and community activity as a vital factor in enhancing the quality of community life. More…
VAC held a conference in May 2007 that aimed to support Camden’s Voluntary and Community Sector in responding to the challenges of a commissioning culture.
You can download the full report from the conference here.
Baseline Mapping of the Sector
This report, commissioned as part of Change Up, gives a baseline mapping of the sector, it’s support use and future need. You can download the full report here.
Assessing the Economic and Social Contribution of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Camden
Want to find out how to measure the social and economic value of the work you do? Then have a look at the report produced by the Office of Public Management, on behalf of the Camden Change Up Steering Group, by following this link.
Fundraising Training and Events
Your chance to improve your fundraising skills and meet the funders. More...
Funding Surgeries at Community Centres
Funding advice sessions are being offered throughout 2009 at various community centres to help hard-to-reach/ marginalised small groups within their neighbourhoods to develop their ideas or projects by accessing funding opportunities. Please follow this link for more information.
Page last updated: February 4, 2010
