Contact us

Voluntary Action Maidstone
39-48 Marsham Street,
Maidstone Community Support Centre
Maidstone,
ME14 1HH

01622 677337

support@vam-online.org.uk

Support from your CVS

Voluntary Action Maidstone - a quality service – it’s official!

Voluntary Action Maidstone’s Council for Voluntary Service is one of only 75 organisations within the country to have been awarded a Quality Mark by NAVCA – the national body that represents CVSs.

The CVS works with local voluntary and community groups to make them stronger and more effective in five main areas – identifying gaps in provision, information/advice/training, networking, representation and strategic partnerships. VAM’s CVS started in 2006 and has worked with hundreds of local groups and organisations since then.

One such group said “VAM performs a most useful role and without its existence many voluntary groups, small and large, would find it extremely difficult to survive”.

To find out how VAM’s CVS can support your voluntary organisation or community group contact Natalie Smith on 01622 677337 or email natalie.smith@vam-online.org.uk

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Voluntary Action Maidstone is home to the town's Council for Voluntary Service (CVS). This support service is available to all existing and emerging voluntary and community organisations/groups (VCOs) in the Maidstone area.

The main aims of the CVS are:

•	to provide support, development and capacity-building to existing groups
•	to encourage and establish new groups and activities to meet identified needs
•	to facilitate opportunities for consultation, liaison and networking between groups and the statutory sector

What is available to groups?

•	information and advice (e.g. on funding, drafting a business plan, governance, publicity)
•	assistance with start up and initial development
•	over 140 short guidance notes on a wide range of useful topics (see Guidance Notes on left)
•	opportunity to input into local, regional and national consultations/policy debates (see Consultations on left)
•	opportunity to join one of our "themed" focus groups e.g. older people, children/young people, BME & communities of faith
•	opportunity to be part of our main Voluntary and Community Sector Focus Group - the place to meet other VCS organisations (see Other Resources on left)
•	partnership working with local statutory bodies
•	contacts with regional and national bodies
•	photocopying, faxing and laminating service

We will try to help you with any query you have, no matter how simple or complex.