Investing in social change and community action
The Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) is an independent grant-making trust which invests in voluntary and community based organisations across Scotland. The funding and support we provide enables them to undertake projects that challenge inequalities and overcome barriers to being involved in community life.
NEWSFLASH
Please note there is a new deadline for the Volunteering Scotland Grant Scheme. The closing date for one and two year main grants is 30 September 2008. Please go to our Grants Section for more information.
For news on the RRRI fund please go to the Grants Section.
VAF STAFF
We are pleased to announce that we have taken on three new members of staff. Rajan Rai is our new Equality Programme Manager, Susan Wilson our Equality Programme Development Officer and Chris Smith, Community Chest Grant Officer (keep an eye here for more news of this exciting programme!).
In addition, Maggie Gardiner, our Interim Manager, will be leaving us on Friday, 25 July. Maggie has been excellent and we, at VAF, are all going to miss her. However, our new Chief Executive, Keith Wimbles will be starting with us on Monday, 28 July. We are all looking forward to an exciting new phase within the organisation and exend our best wishes to both Maggie and Keith.
Grant making
We give grants to, and work with, voluntary organisations in Scotland. Our grant schemes meet the needs of disadvantaged communities and encourage volunteering.
Currently we support projects through four different funding programmes: Volunteering Scotland Grant Scheme (VsGS), Race Equality Community Support Fund (REICSF), Scottish Refugee Integration Fund (SRIF) and GO4Volunteering.
Investment support
Making a grant is the first stage in our relationship with funded projects. Most of our work and interest is post grant. We were the first funder in Scotland to provide dedicated support post grant. Our Investment Support is structured to generate successful projects which have a high degree of impact as well as to provide a structure for capturing the learning which is generated.
Investment support can include one to one project visits, regular training and networking days for funded projects, bespoke training in outcome monitoring and telephone support.
Research and learning
VAF has always placed an emphasis on learning and sharing of learning/good practice. VAF are funding a wide range of project based work which have incredible and far reaching outcomes. We work with the funded projects to capture their learning and then work in partnership on the dissemination of learning – locally and nationally.
VAF have also been carrying out programmes of research on the impact of the funding programmes – from the impact on the delivery of funding programmes through to the longer term impact of providing investment funding.