ViSTAs Background and Development 2004 - 2011
In early 2004 the Somerset voluntary sector network (an informal group committed to strengthening the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)) was approached by The SomersetLearning and Skills Council to develop and deliver a training and capacity building project. In August 2004 ViSTA was established as the training and capacity building organisation to take forward this programme. As we developed we adopted registered charity and company status and established oursevles as a voluntary sector consortium able to host VCS partnerships delivering learning and skills programmes in Somerset.
ViSTA's initial capacity building programme was developed in response to “The HM Treasury Report “The Role of The Voluntary and Community Sector In Service Delivery – A Cross Cutting Review” - September 2002. The theme of reform in public service delivery continues to inform our work today and we aim to offer a varied and flexible programme of support and resource to support the VCS with this and other agendas.
In addition to our workforce development programme we offer practitioners' networks to support fundraising, community development, governance and volunteer management. We also provide specialist infrastructure services including a community accounting and bookkeeping service.
We are a values led chairty, committed to open and transparrent practice, partnerships and collaboration and to the promotion of the VCS in all that we do.
Over the years ViSTA has continued to work in support of the voluntary sector and is now a leading player in the South West for voluntary sector learning and development (capacity building) programmes. Our role is constantly evolving in response to the changing economic and political climate. As we look ahead to 2012 we see as much need for our work as we did way back in 2004. We remain committed to our original vision, “to engage the voluntary and community sector more effectively with learning and development for the benefits it brings to their staff and volunteers and their service users and as a means of overcoming social injustice and inequality”.
Our mission is to provide learning and development that makes a positive difference to the future by supporting charitable enterprise and voluntary action. We achieve our work through three programme areas:
Community development & learning projects (Active Citizens, Community Champions, Intergenerational Volunteers, Apprenticeships, Community Organisers).
Capacity building support and workforce development programmes for VCS staff, volunteers and organisations (volunteer management training, practice sharing resources, fundraising networks, governance support, news and policy services).
Infrastructure services helping other VCS organisations to develop and thrive (Community Accountancy Project, HR consultancy, business planning, project & partnership management and evaluation services).
Company no 6074763 , Registered Charity no 1119172, Telephone: 08453 580372
UK Learning Provider Reference Number: 10020323