Transcript THE COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY SOCIAL SERVICES JAMAICA

THE COUNCIL OF
VOLUNTARY SOCIAL
SERVICES JAMAICA
Background
• Established in 1940. It was the
brainchild of the Most Honourable
Norman Manley, who was very
involved in social reform and
social development
• The largest and longest serving
national, non-profit umbrella
organization
MISSION
• To build the capacity of members and the
wider community, create sustainable
alliances, facilitate mutual support and
joint action; and to represent the concerns
of the social sector including
disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, at
national and international levels
Who are we
110 Affiliates engaged in health, education, community development, agricultural, skills
training and advocacy programmes. Some of our members are:
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Health:
Jamaica Cancer Society
Heart Foundation of Jamaica
Diabetes Association of Jamaica (over 40,000 beneficiaries)
Rise Life Management Services
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Education:
3D Projects
Boy’s Brigade
Abilities Foundation
VOUCH
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Agriculture: Jamaica Agricultural Society
Jamaica 4-H Clubs – promoting agriculture in schools
(60,000 young people are engaged in this initiative)
Who are we (cont’d)
• Community Development: St. Andrew Settlement
Spring Village Development Foundation
• Skills Training:
YMCA
YWCA
Operation Friendship
Children First
• Advocacy
National Consumers League
Jamaicans for Justice
Citizens Advice Bureau
Who are we (Cont’d)
• The work of members has national reach e.g.
- Jamaica 4-H Clubs- 5000 volunteers
working with 60,000 young farmers in
schools.
- Salvation Army
- Jamaica Red Cross
- Heart Foundation of Jamaica
- Jamaica Cancer Society
- Diabetes Association of Jamaica
SCOPE OF WORK
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Training and Resource Development
Advocacy
Networking
Data Collection and Dissemination
Inter Agency Collaboration
Membership Education/Sensitization
Services to Staff
- Health Insurance/Pension
Sector Agencies
• Members are grouped into three sectors
Health
Youth
Gender and Community
The CVSS facilitates meetings of these sectors on a bi-monthly basis
for:
- Planning joint action
- Information Sharing
- Problem Solving
- Cross fertilization of ideas
- Sharing of best practices
- Networking and collaborative action.
Major Achievements
• Remaining relevant and sustained for over 70 years
• Establishment of the National Volunteer Centre – the focal point for
volunteer training, houses the National Registry of Volunteers.
Major Achievements
(cont’d)
• The National Volunteer Centre facilitates training programmes and
is a resource centre for social work practitioners and students.
At centre is Shoshana Edwards, Volunteer Art & Craft instructor
of YMCA, with participants Christopher (L) and Shereene (R)
Mrs. Winsome Wilkins, CEO of CVSS, expresses gratitude to
Professor Murchison Callender and his team from the University
of Waterloo for conducting eye screening at the National
Volunteer Center
Major Achievements (cont’d)
• NGO Management Training Programmes using
curriculum developed in conjunction with the University
of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies and
offered with support from Caribbean Development Bank,
Inter American Development Bank, British High
Commission
• The establishment of the United Way of Jamaica
• Successfully lobbying Government for income tax relief
for over 60 voluntary organizations.
• Instrumental in the establishment of the Council for the
Handicapped and the Council for the Aged, which are
today departments of government.
• Established the Citizens Advice Bureau
Benefits of Membership
• Access to funding for qualified projects from the
United Way of Jamaica
• Ongoing information regarding funding sources
• Training for staff and volunteers
• Access to skills bank of resource persons
• Exposure for membership
• Health Insurance and Pension Scheme for NGO
staff
• Networking opportunities
Governance
• The Council
110 affiliates
Meets at least once per year
• The Executive (20 members)
Elected by the Council at AGM
Serve for three years
Meets monthly
* The Sectors (Health/Youth/Gender & Community
Meet bi-monthly
* Member of the International Council of Social Welfare
Partners
The organization has long standing working relations with a variety of strategic partner
organizations
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Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (Training/Technical Assistance, National Registry of
Volunteers)
Inter-American Development Bank (Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening)
British High Commission (Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
European Union (Funded construction of National Volunteer Centre)
Jamaica Social Investment Fund (Infrastructure for several agencies and fund Summer
Intervention Programmes
PAHO/WHO (Training in Conflict Resolution and Crime Prevention Strategies)
Global Fund
Chase Fund (Sponsorship of Youth Development Programmes)
UWI/UTECH
Ministries of Finance/Health/Social Security/Youth and Sports
Planning Institute of Jamaica
Sports Development Foundation
Social Development Commission
United Way of Jamaica (Project Funding)
Administration
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Staff -
12 core staff members
Project staff
Interns/Trainees
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Budget
MOU in 2000
United Way 65%
CVSS 35%
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Offices
Own facilities at 122-126
Tower Street, Kingston
National Volunteer Centre
2D Camp Road
The CVSS Administrative team consists of a core of qualified professionals,
experienced in Project Management, Project Monitoring and Evaluation supported by
influential and experience volunteers