about AVA

We are a locally based non-profit making organisation. We have, with some changes of name/legal form, operated in the Adur District since 1959. We are currently a charitable company with our overall aim being to “promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in Adur”.
We are members of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA), the umbrella body for local community development agencies throughout the country. Together with our several sister bodies in West Sussex we are committed to delivering our national bodies four broad strands of work. These are:
- Volunteering…
Volunteers are integral to thriving communities, and we promote the activity as a social good. Specifically we operate a service to match people seeking to give their time with organisations and groups offering volunteering opportunities and/or seeking help. More widely volunteering is about people building connections and working together within their community on things they care about. - Supporting…
We can offer one-to-one support and advice to local groups / organisations on matters such as: becoming constituted; registering as a charity; raising funds; promoting themselves; finding meeting space; supporting / training volunteers; recruiting / managing paid staff and developing appropriate policies. We can also offer to hold money on behalf of small groups not having their own bank account. - Networking…
Places and communities are strengthened when organisations work together. We bring people and organisations together – as with our Community Chat sessions – to exchange information and for mutual support. As required we work with other organisations on projects to research / meet (un)identified need and sit on various inter-agency forums both within Adur and the wider county. On occasion we are also involved in contributing to national initiatives via our national federation. - Representation…
In many ways this activity encompasses all the others above. Communities, both individuals and organisations, should have an impact on decisions that affect the place they live in. Our members are leaders and advocates in their communities and we help by enabling them to influence key decision-makers and funders. As a community development body we operate to bring together diverse groups and marginalised communities to strengthen, and have heard, the voluntary sector’s voice.
You can keep in touch with what is happening at Adur Voluntary Action by subscribing to our monthly newsletter Adur Voice.