Working for the community

Voluntary Action Stratford-on-Avon District (VASA) has been working with a wide range of local organisations and other partners across the Stratford District for over 30 years to promote voluntary and community action and involvement.

As the lead organisation for the voluntary and community district in the District, we

- provide an extensive choice of services, including funding, administrative and constitutional support to help voluntary and community organisations with their work and development.

- run a number of services ourselves, including The Loft, Volunteer Driver Scheme, Rural Outreach and Community Gardening,  that address key issues like improving access to services, tackle rural isolation and deprivation and make it possible for older people who would be housebound and isolated because they can’t get out of their homes to go shopping, visit friends or community clubs, or keep health care appointments to lead more independent lives.

- promote volunteering to help increase the number of volunteers and the impact and value of volunteering. The Volunteer Centre -  which has Volunteering England accreditation for the quality of its services - is responsible for recruiting volunteers, identifying opportunities for voluntary work and helping to place people with local groups and VASA’s own services.

We also ensure the voluntary and community sector’s voice is heard by policy and decision makers at local, county, regional and national levels - and through our active involvement in the Local Area Agreement, Stratford District Partnership (http://www.stratford-dp.org.uk) and other partnerships with local government and other statutory agencies, we help to shape the delivery of many services in the community.

Working with our key partners, Stratford District Council, Warwickshire County Council, Stratford upon Avon Town Trust and Orbit Housing, VASA is supporting voluntary and community organisations and thousands of volunteers aacross the District to bring their skills, hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to making a real difference to the quality of life of individuals and local communities.

You can find out more about our work by clicking on the links on the right hand side of this page.

Last updated: Sat 21st Mar 2009