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Guide to the Voluntary Sector --> Voluntary Sector in your field

This is a listing of resources relating to the voluntary sector in different fields in Wales.

Contents- Voluntary Sector in your Field

Arts | Bilingualism | Business | Christian Work | Environment | Disability Groups | Education and learning | Health | Homelessness | ICT- Information and Communication Technology | Mental health | Minority groups | Overseas Volunteering | Mental health | Reducing crime and helping offenders | Sport | Substance abuse | Transport | Women |

Arts

The Voluntary Arts Wales website posts details of funding information, VAW publications, policy and consultations and training and events. Voluntary Arts Wales is described as the 'Wales development agency for the voluntary arts', and promotes and supports participation in voluntary and community arts organisations.

Audiences Wales is an agency dedicated to increasing access to the arts and cultural sector in Wales. They provide a range of tactical and strategic marketing services for a wide range of organisations, from opera companies to galleries, to amateur theatre companies and museums. Audiences Wales was created as a result of a merger that took place in April 2005 between Cardiff Arts Marketing (CAM), Valleys Arts Marketing (VAM) and Marketing the Arts in Swansea and Carmarthenshire (MASC).

For other resources relating to Art in Wales (many relevant to the voluntary sector), visit Wales on the Web Arts section.

Bilingualism

The Welsh Language Board provides advice for voluntary sector bodies in implementing a Welsh language policy as does As good as our words' which is available to download from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action website.

Business

Business in the Community (BITC Cymru/Wales) 'works in partnership with over 300 companies to advance and support social and economic regeneration initiatives in disadvantaged communities throughout Wales.' BITC Wales/Cymru has offices in Cardiff, Denbigh, Llandarcy and Tredegar. The website has a latest news section on its activities and provides examples of case studies involving Business in the Community in Wales.

ProHelp is a 'Business in the Community' initiative. It is a national network of 1,000 professional firms who give their time and expertise for free to community groups and voluntary organisations in Wales. 108 ProHelp firms have provided professional advice to voluntary and community groups. There are currently ProHelp groups operating in Cardiff, Ceredigion, mid Wales, north Wales and Swansea. The website provides details of case studies in Wales, its programmes and regional contact details. The sectors involved in the venture include accountancy, architecture and building services, design and graphics, legal, marketing, media, planning, public relations and property services.

Christian Work

Gweini is the Council for Christian Community Work in Wales. Gweini was established in 1999 in order to 'represent the Christian voluntary sector to government in the context of the devolved politics' and ensure that the Christian voluntary sector is aware of funding opportunities from the government. The website provides access to briefing papers, policy submission, funding information and online access to the Gweini bulletin.

Christian Aid is a worldwide charitable organisation working to end poverty and the rules that keep people poor. The Wales section of the Christian Aid website provides contact details, volunteering opportunities and an events calendar. Christian Aid has offices in Cardiff, Bangor and Carmarthen.

Education and learning

Niace Dysgu Cymru is a multi-agency partnership of some 110 organisations including local authorities, colleges, universities, community and voluntary organisations that 'support and promote the development of lifelong learning in Wales'. Community University of the Valleys Partnership is a partnership between Higher Education and the Voluntary Sector in West Wales and the South Wales Valleys and targets isolated communities and provides innovative community based learning opportunities, from informal to degree level study.

There are many opportunities available in Wales for those wishing to continue in education and learning or acquire new skills. For a listing of adult education resources visit Wales on the Web's Lifelong Learning or Basic Adult Education sections.

Elderly

, is the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme run by CSV (Community Services Volunteers) since 1998. 'RSVP believes that older people have a lifetime of skills and experience which, when brought into volunteering activities, is of immeasurable benefit in their own communities. Through their involvement in community activities, the volunteers themselves receive an enormous benefit in terms of improved health and self-confidence.' The site provides RSVP news and activities information from different areas of Wales.

Help the Aged 'funds and offers a range of quality services to older people' in the United Kingdom including advice and information, home shopping and services and contact details for your local area. The Wales section has updated regional news and policy issues that would be of interest to the elderly in Wales.

Age Concern Wales was established in order to improve the lives of older people though initiating consultation, partnership & research, influencing policy, improving service standards and raising awareness to issues that affect older people in Wales. The website contains Age Concern contact information in all areas of Wales, and has a news and press releases section. It also has a FAQ section on relevant information for the elderly, and online access to a number of information sheets.

Age Alliance Wales is a national voluntary organisation working for and with older people in Wales. Their website provides details of events, members, projects and has a latest news section.

For other resources relating to the Elderly in Wales, visit Wales on the Web Elderly section.

Environment

BTCV is the UK’s largest practical environmental charity helping over 130,000 volunteers every year to improve their local environment. Through staff and volunteers, BTCV Cymru can provide the help, advice and practical support that individuals, groups and organisation need to take in account – everything from teams of volunteers to tools loan to community groups for their own activities. The website gives information about BCTV Cymru's activities, how they can help local communities and how you can get involved.

Other resources of interest include:

  • Greencare operates within the boroughs of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taff. The aim is to undertake practical environmental improvements to the area, create a Greencare network committed to sustainable development and to work in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors.
  • Groundwork is a leading environmental regeneration charity making sustainable development a reality in the UK's poorest neighbourhoods. They work in partnership with local people, local authorities and businesses to bring about economic and social regeneration by improving the local environment.'
  • Keep Wales Tidy is a registered environmental charity working for the improvement of Wales’ local environments. The website has a section on Community Action.
  • Monmouthshire GreenWeb a network of organisations, including many from the voluntary sector, wanting to conserve the environment of Monmouthshire.
  • The Wales Environment Trust provides advice, support and funding opportunities to private, public and community organisations to develop sustainable solutions for dealing with Wales' waste.

For other resources relating to the Environment in Wales (many relating to the voluntary sector), visit Wales on the Web Environment or Sustainable Development sections.

Disability Groups

Disability Wales is the 'national association of disability groups in Wales working to promote rights, inclusion, equality, and support of all disabled people in Wales'. Disability Wales provide information and support, develop opportunities to ensure that the disabled are able to participate as equal citizens, and participate in policy development. The website provides information on Disability Wales and its services and has a listing of disability related links.

For other resources relating to Disability issues in Wales, visit Wales on the Web Disability section.

Health

Building strong bridges is a partnership between the voluntary sector and the NHS Wales at local and national levels and it is recognised that the voluntary sector is a key partner in the delivering health and well-being policy and initiatives.

PHA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the Public Health Association - an independent voluntary organisation. It aims to 'through our members, activities and co-operation with others, to be a unifying and powerful voice for the public’s health and well-being in Wales, focusing on the need to eliminate inequalities in health, to promote sustainable development and to combat anti-health forces.'

For a listing of voluntary organisations in Wales, many relating to health, visit Building Strong Bridges directory of voluntary organisations.

Homeless

Shelter Cymru is the organisation responsible for protecting the rights of the homeless in Wales and Homeless Link is a membership organisation supporting and representing more than 700 agencies working with homeless people across England and Wales. They deliver a wide range of services to meet the needs of homeless people.

A number of initiative have appeared throughout Wales offering help and support for the homeless. They include:

For other resources offering support and advice for the homeless in Wales, visit Wales on the Web homeless section.

ICT- Information and Communication Technology

Ensuring that the advantages of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) reach all sectors of society in Wales is high on the agenda of the Welsh Assembly Government, though its Cymru Ar-lein programme.

Many initiatives already exist in Wales extending ICT to less advantaged areas. These resources are also of use to community groups and the voluntary sector in Wales. They include

  • SWITCH (South Wales Information Technology Community Highway) is a partnership between 15 minority community groups in south Wales, including ethnic minorities and the homeless, and the Scarman Trust. SWITCH's aim is to take down barriers to learning in the community for these communities and to improve their access and understanding of information technology.

For other resources offering ICT support and advice, visit Wales on the Web's Computer Science- education section.

Mental health

Bridgend Association of Voluntary Association provides information on mental health issues and contact details for various bodies in Wales.

Mental Health Wales is a comprehensive mental health website serving Wales. It provides details of where to go for help, latest news section on mental health issues, advice for families and carers and legal information. The resource is managed by Hafal.

For other services relating to mental health in Wales, visit Wales on the Web mental health section.

Minority groups

Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW) aims to be a focal point and driving force for the black voluntary sector in Wales. They aim to enhance the profile of black voluntary sector and communities, and to provide a service that reflects the views, interests and needs of black and ethnic minority communities and reflects the priority of the National Assembly for Wales in combating social exclusion.

BEST (Black and ethnic minority support team) is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government under the Communities First programme. The aim is to develop skills and resources and remove economic and social barriers in black and ethnic communities in Wales. It is a partnership between is a partnership between:

Other resources of interest include:

  • ABCD- a voluntary organisation based in Cardiff. They work with black and minority ethnic children and young people (0-25 years). Their website is currently under construction.
  • AWETU, providing support to all black and minority ethnic people confronted by mental illness.

For a listing of websites offering support and advice for minority groups in Wales, visit Wales on the Web minority groups section.

Overseas volunteering

The is an international development charity and has volunteers from the UK working in the development world. The VSO has 6 local groups in Wales- Abergavenny, Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Conwy, Dolgellau and Swansea. The Volunteering Wales website also has a section for those interested in overseas volunteering.

Reducing Crime & Helping Offenders

SOVA is a national volunteer organisation, established in order to increase community involvement in reducing crime. SOVA work with young people in care, care leavers, those disaffected with schools, those with basic education problems or in trouble with the law. The website has a listing of its projects in Wales. The Wales office is in Newtown, Powys. Sova are also involved in a number of projects in Wales.

Nacro Cymru is a branch of the Nacro independent voluntary organisation which works to prevent crime. Their work is to make society safer by finding practical solutions to reducing crime. The main office in Wales is in Swansea but there are also offices in Bangor, Barry and Port Talbot.

Crime Concern is a national organisation providing support and advice to a wide range of professional and voluntary agencies in order to help them reduce crime and the fear of crime within local communities. The website provides details of its many services, publications and projects. Crime Concern have a Wales regional office in Cardiff Bay.

The Powys Challenge is a voluntary organisation that works with offenders, defendants and those at risk of offending to reduce crime and reintegrate people within their communities. The site has information about the organisation, it's policies, how to volunteer and contact details.

Sport

It has been long recognised that volunteering plays an important role in the delivery of sport in Wales. The Sports Council for Wales wants to increase the number of volunteers within Wales that are able to support sport development within schools and communities. Training is providing to those that wish to participate. This is an introduction to the scheme and provides further details on how to participate in 'Volunteers in Sport'.

Many sporting and recreation activities take place in Wales. Many clubs and sporting bodies are listed within Wales on the Web.

Substance abuse

Many agencies exist throughout the whole of Wales helping those with alcohol and drug problems. For a listing of these services in Wales, please visit Wales on the Web's substance abuse section.

Transport

Community transport is used by voluntary and community groups, schools, colleges and Local Authorities in Wales. It also provides door-to-door transport for people who are unable to use other public transport. The CTA (Community Transport Association ) is the national representative body of these voluntary sector transport operators. The Wales pages provides information on Community transport in Wales.

Women

YWCA England & Wales helps young women to change their lives in a positive way, encouraging them to work together to overcome discrimination and disadvantage. The organisation was founded in 1855, and today supports young women between the ages of 11 and 30 who are facing disadvantages such as poverty, unemployment, violence and abuse. The website offers the opportunity to support the organisation by donating funds, as well as pages such as 'News and Publications' and 'Working with us'.

Merched y Wawr is a national movement for women in Wales whose medium of communication is Welsh.

For a listing of websites in Wales relating to services and organisations supporting the role of women in welsh life, visit Wales on the Web's women section.