Services
Voluntary Groups Sutherland (VGS) supports voluntary organisations, volunteers, and communities across Sutherland — plus we deliver community services like Sutherland Friends Call.
What we do
Voluntary Groups Sutherland are the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for Sutherland, and part of the Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) network.
Third sector interfaces (TSIs) provide a single point of access for support and advice for the third sector within local areas. There is a TSI in each local authority area in Scotland. You can find out more about TSIs on TSI Scotland’s website.
The Scottish Government has a contract with HTSI for the delivery of four core functions:
1) Strong third sector
Supporting and developing a strong third sector.
2) Volunteering
Volunteering development across Sutherland.
3) Social enterprise
Support for social enterprise development.
4) Community planning
Building relationships with community planning partners.
How we support the voluntary sector in Sutherland
To achieve a thriving and connected voluntary sector, VGS focuses on the following:
- Representation of the sector, especially to enable its participation in decision making processes that inform community planning
- Dissemination of information through a variety of media such as e-bulletins, the dedicated website, mail-shots and information leaflets
- Initiating new activities and services in response to identified needs
- Networking and working in partnership with other agencies
- Advice on good practice for management, governance and employment in the voluntary sector
- Advice and support on sources of funding, fundraising, constitutions, memorandum and articles of association, charitable status and charity regulation
- Support to emerging new groups
- Surveys of need
- Training
Third Sector Support
Practical support for groups across Sutherland — from compliance support to peer networks where groups can share practice and learn from each other.
Independent Examination (IE)
We can act as Independent Examiner for small charity and non-charity accounts. Charities must be either unincorporated or SCIOs, with an income of up to £250k.
PVG Countersignatory
VGS can act as counter signatory for PVG scheme applications.
Sutherland Village Halls Network
A peer support forum open to Village Halls, Community Spaces and committee members across Sutherland. Meet via Zoom or in person to network, support, share practice and learn from each other.
Regular informal meetings discuss current topics such as legislation, risk assessments and funding — and help build contacts across Sutherland.
Sutherland Volunteer Managers Forum
An open peer support forum for volunteer managers/coordinators to share practice, discuss issues and support each other professionally.
Meet over coffee or via Zoom. Open to anyone who supports volunteers in their workplace in Sutherland, with guests from private, public and voluntary sectors.
Sutherland Governance Forum
A peer support network for third sector organisations interested in improving governance, sharing good practice and learning from each other.
- Build knowledge of good governance across Sutherland
- Build strong, resilient, well-connected community groups
- Build a peer-support network
The forum meets quarterly (or as required) and is open to any community group, charity or third sector organisation in Sutherland.
To find out more about Third Sector Support, please email contact@vgs.scot or call 01408 633001.
Volunteer Friendly Award
VGS is registered to assist and enable local voluntary groups to gain the Volunteer Friendly Award (VFA).
The award is a simple, user-friendly quality standard, designed by Volunteer Centre Dundee, to support, recognise and reward groups who are good at involving volunteers. Many essential services in Scotland’s communities are enhanced by volunteers. Volunteering also has a significant social value, helping individuals build confidence and skills through helping others.
The Volunteer Friendly Award helps you take an organised look at what you do and how you do it. It offers a flexible approach which allows your group to work at its own pace, with full support from VGS. It is based on the national standard Investing in Volunteers (IiV), but is designed for small organisations who may not be ready to undertake IiV yet — or who want a stepping stone towards it.
Who is it for?
- Any group which involves volunteers to carry out its work
- Any group thinking about involving volunteers to carry out its work
How does it work?
There are three parts to the Volunteer Friendly Award:
- Checklist for self-assessment
- Support to develop an action plan
- The Volunteer Friendly Award
If you are interested in finding out more, email contact@vgs.scot or call 01408 633001 to arrange an initial meeting.
Office services
Practical support and equipment available through our office.
Advice & information
- Funding, fundraising, grant-aid
- Constitutions, charitable status
- Committee and management matters
- Employment and company formation
Printing & admin
- Combined colour / B&W photocopier (enlarge, reduce, overlay, feeder, collation)
- Typing and computer printing, including graphics for posters and leaflets
- Scanning (A4 colour flatbed)
- Comb-binder and laminating (A4, A3, ID card size)
- Secure paper shredding
Space & promotion
- Window display space for posters and adverts
- Information racks at Alba
- Meeting / training room (OHP, projector on request, flip chart, whiteboard)
- Digital projector & screen, digital camera
- Regular email bulletins
- Northern Times advertising box (2 fundraising adverts weekly) + events promoted on social media
Compliance
- PVG: VGS can act as counter signatory for PVG scheme applications
- Independent Examination (IE) for small charity and non-charity accounts (eligibility applies)
Sutherland Friends Call
A telephone befriending service open to anyone aged 18 and over, living in Sutherland, who is struggling and would benefit from a friendly social telephone call.
Befriending calls are carried out by our volunteers who are PVG checked, trained and supervised. Our volunteers come from all over Highland and have a wide range of interests and hobbies.
We offer supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer befrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. Befriending can be a lifeline for those feeling vulnerable, isolated or lonely and can lead to increased self-esteem and self-confidence.
Referrals
To refer to the service, please email contact@vgs.scot or call 01408 633001. If staff are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message and we’ll get back to you.
Become a volunteer befriender
If you would like to enquire about becoming a volunteer befriender, please email contact@vgs.scot or call the office on 01408 633001.