Voluntary and Community Action is a member of the Bedfordshire and Luton Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Consortium (also know as Voluntary Works).

Voluntary Works exists to provide effective support services to Third Sector organisations; enabling them to develop their capacity to deliver quality services that meet the needs of their communities. This is achieved by working in partnership on a variety of projects. Voluntary and Community Action is currently involved in the Good Governance project.

Good Governance will enable voluntary organisations and community groups to increase their own capacity and be more effective in the governance of their organisation. The project seeks to:

• develop ways of attracting more volunteers to act as trustees and management committee members
• work with voluntary and community organisations to develop their understanding and ability to implement effective governance arrangements
• work with voluntary and community organisations to increase their capacity to meet their purpose and deliver their missions.

Past projects include:

• Mapping the Voluntary and Community Sector
  Developing an extensive picture of the size, value and needs of the local sector, particularly those organisations not already in contact with a local infrastructure organisation.
• Increased Profile for Volunteer Centres
  Making volunteering easier and attractive to new volunteers through re-branding and increased publicity.
• A Collaborative Website - voluntaryworks.org.uk
  Establishing a single consortium web portal, along with individual websites full of useful information, advice and signposts. An online database of voluntary organisations will also be available as the mapping work progresses.
• Promoting More Sustainable Funding of the Sector
  Improving the level of advice available on generating income, developing social enterprise activity and researching the opportunities for procurement.
• Capital Improvements
  Raising the effectiveness of the consortium members through improvements in IT infrastructure and premises.

For more information on the Voluntary Works ChangeUp programme please visit the Voluntary Works website.