Community Development and Empowerment
Community-led, asset-based community development
“The support I have had from VAST has been incredible. The team were very knowledgeable and really supportive which meant that I was able to ask all the questions I had and move forward with confidence."
We are committed to helping you build on the strengths, talents, and resources of your organisation and your community to create a vibrant and thriving VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) sector that enhances the quality of life for all local residents.
Our mission is you
As a Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO), we specialise in providing a range of support services to the VCSE in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire enabling you to deliver high quality services that enrich your local community.
From that first spark of an idea to help your community to evaluating large-scale funded projects, our tailored support from our team of highly experienced project officers will help equip you with the knowledge, skills, resources, and guidance you need to develop and run an effective and impactful organisation to help people in your community.
We’re with you, every step of the way
Running a charity, voluntary organisation, or community group is a very rewarding thing, but it can also be tough with barriers and challenges cropping up often when (and where) you’d least expect them to.
While challenges may arise, our role is to help you harness the strengths of your organisation and overcome any obstacles, allowing you to focus on making your community an even better place for those who live there
Whether you’re starting out, expanding your reach, or reporting on a project, we’re here for you.
Our support services
Here are the key areas where we can support your journey:
Governance, compliance, and leadership
- Setting up a new organisation and finding the right legal structure for your vision.
- Creating a governing document that reflects your values.
- Understanding your organisation’s legal responsibilities.
- Developing policies and procedures.
- Securing the right insurance for your organisation.
Business Planning
- Creating a realistic business plan that reflects your ambitions and community strengths.
- Running a sustainable and efficient organisation rooted in your values.
- Defining and meeting your organisation’s objectives.
Community Engagement
- Defining your target audience.
- Identifying and connecting with the people in your community who can make a difference.
- Building meaningful relationships that enhance engagement.
Funding and Finance
- Finding suitable funding and grants.
- Supporting you to write compelling funding applications by showcasing your strengths.
- Budgeting with confidence for funding applications.
- Fundraising and managing donations.
- Navigating commissioning and procurement processes.
- Engaging with commissioners.
- Winning contracts.
- Writing effective tender bids.
Networking and Collaboration
- Connecting with other organisations to enrich your community.
- Working together and learning from one another.
- Exchanging knowledge, skills, resources, and more.
- Effectively engaging with community panels, health and community leaders, and local authorities.
- Understanding how to work collaboratively with statutory bodies to influence positive change.
Performance Management and Evaluation
- Clarifying your intended outcomes.
- Recognising milestones throughout your project.
- Measuring your impact.
- How to collect and use your data.
- Report writing.
- Evaluating a project effectively.
- Using feedback to showcase your social value.
Recruiting and Managing Staff
- Employing, paying, and managing staff.
- Training and retaining your workforce to build organisational resilience.
- Understanding your legal responsibilities as an employer.
- Developing HR policies and procedures that reflect your organisation’s strengths and culture.
Designed and delivered for you
We’ve used all our experience and insight into the local sector to continue to develop and enhance our services to better serve the VCSE sector. Our previous work informs our present and future work, ensuring that we’re delivering the support you need, when you need it.
The support we give you aims to strengthen the foundations of your organisation, to equip you with the knowledge and skills to run an effective, efficient, resilient, and impactful organisation. Our work aims to empower you to achieve your objectives, meet your aims, and fulfil your mission, making the most of the skills, knowledge, and assets within your team, your organisation and your community, creating a lasting positive impact.
VAST has a wealth of knowledge and a century of experience so you can rest assured that you’re getting the support you and your organisation deserve.