What we do

We provide advice, information and support to the voluntary sector in Carmarthenshire, and offer membership to groups wishing to join the association.

For full details of all our services visit the main sections in this website.

Our development and funding team help with setting up and running groups legally, and keep groups up to date with legislation and current issues affecting the voluntary sector. The team, which includes a funding advice officer, helps to find and apply for relevant project funding.

CAVS partnership team facilitate the representation of the voluntary sector on various planning forums, and also facilitate voluntary sector forums of interest such as the Carmarthenshire Health and Wellbeing Forum, the Environment Forum and the Carmarthenshire Lifelong Learning Forum. CAVS helps to provide mechanisms to ensure effective partnership working between appropriate agencies.

The Carmarthenshire Volunteer Bureau supports voluntary work, aims to raise standards for volunteers and promotes good practice, helping groups to develop policies. The bureau matches local volunteering opportunities with prospective volunteers.

CAVS Information Project co-ordinates monthly mailings to 250 voluntary and community groups and to key contacts in the local authority and other agencies, and facilitates the exchange of information across and between the voluntary and statutory sectors. The project also maintains a voluntary sector database for the county, containing details of over 600 groups in the county. CAVS website is developed and maintained by the Information Project.

The Association also hosts the Carmarthenshire Carers Project. Through a telephone helpline service, and the Carers Information Pack and Carers Newsletter, carers across the County are informed and supported. Carers are also encouraged to be involved in the planning of local strategies and services, in particular through the Carers Alliance which was established by the project in 2001.

CAVS also provides many practical services including secretarial services, loan of training equipment, and meeting room hire at the Carmarthen office.

 

Funding sources

We are funded primarily through Wales Council for Voluntary Action, the Local Regeneration Fund, and Objective 1. Funding is also provided by the Welsh Assembly, Carmarthenshire Health Alliance, Carmarthenshire Childrens Partnership and Sure Start, the National Council ELWa, Carmarthenshire Social Services, and Carmarthenshire Local Health Board.

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Staff list

See the Contact CAVS page for a list of CAVS staff.

Click here to view an organisation chart of CAVS Staff (PDF 38KB).

 

Board of Trustees

CAVS is managed by a Board of Trustees which consists of representatives of local voluntary groups, the Local Authority and the Local Health Board. The Board is elected annually by CAVS members, and meets on a bi-monthly basis.

Mair Stephens (Chair)	Menter Cwm Gwendraeth
Hugh Edwards (Treasurer)	Catch Up Ltd.
Rhian Evans	Talking Newspaper for the Blind
Gayle Harris	Dr Mz - Carmarthen Youth Project
Mal James	Cymdeithas Edward Llwyd
Ken Davies	Deaf and Hard of Hearing Club
Angelina Harding	Ammanford Talking Newspaper
Deris Williams	Carmarthenshire Local Health Board
Sandra Cooke	Carmarthenshire County Council
Dorothy McDonald	Amman Valley Dementia Carers Support Group
Dean Horsfield	Disabled Workers Co-operative
Alban Rees	One Voice Wales
Enfys Davies	Carmarthenshire County Council
Gwyneth Ayers	Carmarthenshire Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Partnership Board

 

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