About 2D

Mission Statement: To provide co-ordinated support to the Voluntary and Community sector of Teesdale and Wear Valley

Our mission will be achieved by:

Providing a quality service for Individuals, Voluntary and Community Organisations, managed and owned by local people, reflecting local needs and interests, by developing a voluntary sector alliance across Teesdale and Wear Valley.

2D is a membership organisation, the members being voluntary and community groups operating in the locality, and membership is free.

A core staff team exists to ensure the delivery of the key aims and objectives based on the following functions:

---

Council for Voluntary Service (CVS)- a voluntary organisation which is set up, owned and run by local groups to support, promote and develop local voluntary and community action. CVS support their members by providing them with a range of services and by acting as a voice for the local voluntary and community sector.

2D, CVS acts as a key resource and information point for local community and voluntary organisations by providing:

Services and support - These include access to facilities, such as meeting rooms, photocopiers, ICT and display equipment and more involved services such as advice and guidance. We also support local groups through regular newsletters, training, funding advice and specialist services.

Liaison - We recognise the importance of working collectively with other like-minded organisations at County and Regional levels, such as individuals and groups within the sector, and between local groups and the statutory and private sectors, in order to ensure good practice and avoid duplication of services.

Representation - We enable the views of local groups to be represented to local authorities, other public agencies and voluntary and community sector forums. This provides an opportunity for the groups to put forward their views on national and local policies. We are open in the way we seek, collate, and enable representation of the views of the sector.

Development work - As a CVS, we take the lead in identifying gaps in service provision and work with groups to develop new and innovative services to meet these needs. We do this by enlarging the representation of voluntary and community groups currently held on our database, contacting local member organisations via mailings, one to one visits/sessions, and establish focus groups at local level as the needs arise, e.g. Community Development Workers forum, and Community Networks

Strategic Partnerships - We enable the voluntary and community sector to play an effective role in local government and other statutory agencies e.g. Local Strategic Partnerships, to shape the delivery of services. We work to ensure that the local voluntary and community sector have their voice heard in the decision making process. E.g. SAZ, LSP, LAA Compact working group, One Voice Network

---

Volunteer Centre - Volunteer Centres provide support at a local level for individual volunteers and volunteer involving organisations.

They have six core functions:

Brokerage - the Volunteer Centre holds information on a range of opportunities with the aim of matching volunteers with appropriate volunteering opportunities. We also offer potential volunteers support and advice.

Marketing volunteering - we stimulate and encourage local interest in volunteering and community activity. This may include promoting and marketing volunteering through local, regional and national events and campaigns.

Good practice development - promoting good practice in working with volunteers to all volunteer involving organisations. We deliver training and accreditation for potential volunteers, volunteers, volunteer managers and the volunteering infrastructure.

Develop volunteering opportunities - working in close partnership with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies as well as community groups and faith groups to develop local volunteering opportunities.

Policy response and campaigning - identifying proposals or legislation that may impact on volunteering. It will lead and/or participate in campaigns on issues that affect volunteers or volunteering.

Strategic development of volunteering - As the local experts on volunteering Volunteer Centres inform strategic thinking and planning at a regional and national level.

---

2D also takes a lead role, through support of the Community Network, in bringing together community groups, with local service providers and the business community so that groups have the opportunity to contribute on how services are delivered in their area. This can include services around health, education, policing and many more.

From time to time additional staff will be employed on specific projects, which will enhance the aims and objectives, which support the mission statement. At present, we have two specialist staff members including a Sports Club Development Officer who deals solely with sports based community groups, and a Children’s Participation Worker who aims to involve young people in decisions about public service delivery that effects them and their peers.