DACORUM

Dacorum CVS has a staff team of 38 plus many tutors and interpreters we engage as required. In the past year our European Project activity has increased and with this growth we have developed and increased our staff team, with other colleagues providing support at times of hosting meetings / delivering training. This is part of our strategy of developing our expertise in this area. The organisation turnover is £1.7 million and the following quality standards: Investors in People, Investors in Diversity, Matrix and ISO9001.

We are active in working with young people through a range of community activities (see response to the next question). We are also an adult educational provider and combine this role with community development, support and services. We deliver a range of leisure and employability skills related courses, including ESOL, Interpreter training, Arts and Crafts, Belly dancing, Confidence building, Employability, Swimming, Volunteering, Yoga and courses to support NGO’s improve their organisational capacity.

We have long standing expertise in supporting NGOs to develop their capacities and capabilities and provide a range of services such as printing, payroll, equipment hire, minibus hire and advice in relation to governance, funding advice, social enterprise, income generation and practical skills.  We also operate a community based internet radio station, Radio Dacorum, which is used to develop the skills of volunteers as well as being an effective communication channel for local community activity and our European Projects.

Our projects meet community needs, e.g. Community Transport, Shopmobility, Corporate Social Responsibility, Cultural Learning Project, an Interpreting and Translation Service, an Adult Career Information Advice and Guidance, Migration Integration and Domestic Violence support. They have been set up to respond to identified community needs and support individuals facing barriers and disadvantage. We take account of needs in venue, day of the week and time, and engaging at an earlier stage with learners to ensure we address confidence barriers

Our activities as above are supported in their delivery by 130 volunteers and these include two EVS volunteers on 9 and 11 month placements (from Italy and Romania) and intern placements from France and Italy.

We represent NGO’s in strategic and other partnerships (such as providing the Chair of Dacorum Learning Partnership) where we sit with the public and private sectors in community planning and ensuring good current service delivery. We actively engage with a wide variety of subject areas; such as European funding, economic development, social enterprise, children and young people, migrant workers, ethnic minorities,  people with disabilities, older people, the environment, community safety and lifelong learning.

We use our expertise as outlined above to engage in a range of European transnational projects (as outlined below) and our ethos is that we have a story to share and many stories to learn as part of developing new ideas to develop the support we provide in our community.