​Merger of services means greater support for volunteers

A new service is being launched to support Inverclyde’s community groups and volunteers.

Development support for volunteering, currently delivered by the local Community Development Trust, will move to CVS Inverclyde.

This support includes encouraging people to volunteer, helping people find a volunteering role and supporting organisations to recruit and manage volunteers effectively.

The CVS will offer these services alongside their existing support to local voluntary organisations.

One employee from the trust will move to CVS Inverclyde to help the transition.

Jim Bristow, chief executive of Inverclyde Community Development Trust, said: “The trust first opened a volunteer centre over 20 years ago, and volunteering has always been a hugely important part of what we deliver.

“We’ve been working more closely with CVS on this delivery over the last few years, and now seemed like the right moment to move to a single service.”

Ian Bruce, chief executive at CVS Inverclyde added: “This makes sense for Inverclyde and we are looking forward to being able to offer a joined up service to local communities.

“The services have been delivered well in partnership and we want to keep the best of that while using the opportunity to develop.”

The volunteering support service will stop being delivered by the trust on 10 November.

After a short transition period, CVS Inverclyde will deliver the service from Monday 20 November at its offices in the Inverclyde Community Hub, Cathcart Street, Greenock.