Arran CVS - Home Page

Interested in finding out what's happening in Argyll & the Islands?

Welcome to the
Arran Community and Voluntary Service Website.

From April 1^st 2011 Arran Community and Voluntary Service, in partnership with the Ayrshire Community Trust, will provide the functions of the North Ayrshire Interface. There are four functions

To support and develop volunteering.
To support and develop third sector organisations locally whether local or national organisations.
To support and encourage social enterprise.
To create clearer communication between the Third Sector and the Community Planning Partnership.

Our revised name, Arran Community and Voluntary Service, reflects our change of status to a Private Limited Company, and marks our role in the North Ayrshire Interface. Read our manager's brief outline of the Interface. If you have any queries, please contact us.

We provide a wide range of information and support services to voluntary and community groups located on the Islands of Arran and Cumbrae. We are also a link to many other local, regional and national organisations and networks that may be able to help.

Arran CVS wants to hear from you/your group to

Find out what kind of help you may need
Identify gaps in services & support
Identify the main issues & concerns that have an impact on your group, volunteers, clients or service user
Let us know what's happening in your group/community

Click for information from North Ayrshire Council

Check their Community Planning page

for the most recent updates.

HAVE YOU READ THE STRAIGHT TALKING REPORT? NAC have now published their response.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations website has updates on the national employment situation.

You can also keep up to date with Holyrood agendas by subscribing to their Third Force newsletter

2014 Communities, via Big Lottery Fund Scotland, provide financial assistance which may be available to community sport organisations, community councils and schools to encourage involvement in sport and physical activity. The funding limit has just been doubled to £2000.

READ ACVS' LATEST NEWSLETTER HERE

Could you be eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme? See our News on Arran page for more information.

Cycling Scotland may be able to help community-led groups whose aim is to increase the number of trips made by bicycle. See our Funding pages for more information.

The See Me campaign aims to reduce stigma and increase awareness of mental health difficulties, making use of open discussion as a means of providing support. We can all play a part, and need no qualifications other than a good pair of listening ears and the desire to use them. See the website for ideas on getting involved.

North Ayrshire's Community Planning Partnership has published October's Funding newsletter.

Funding from Argyll and the Islands Leader - the next deadline for applications is 26th January 2012 . The LAG meeting to discuss shortlisted appplications will be held on 15th March 2012. For details click here.

AIMS Advocacy and Visit Arran received awards from the most recent funding allocation, and more news will follow in due course about AIMS' plans to increase service provision on Arran.

Have a look at our Community Exchange page to see if you could benefit from advice and networking services.

Arran CAB has moved to the Ormidale Sports Pavilion and will be staffed on Monday and Tuesday, 10am until 2pm, dependant on availability of experienced volunteer advisors. Outwith these times, NACAS can be contacted on 01294 467848. See NACAS homepage for further information and alternative sources of advice, by phone or online.

Scotland's Islands is a fund established to celebrate Island cultures. It is currently open to applications from Island groups, or those working towards Island-based objectives. There will be 3 tranches for projects delivered between Spring 2011 and Spring 2012. If you have a project or event in mind, see our Funding pages for quick links and more information on criteria.

See our Funding pages for some great opportunities that could benefit your project.

Check our News on Arran pages for more details of Fairtrade on Arran. See Fairtrade events photos in our gallery

Changes for RURAL PRIORITIES! See our News on Arran page for details. Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) guidelines for Rural Priorities funding applications can be found here. Changes to the programme have been announced by theScottish Government.

Big Lottery have a helpline for all your funding questions 0300 123 7110 Click here for the Scotland funding update.

There are more opportunities than ever for groups or individuals to apply and you can e-mail Big at enquiries.scotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk

COULD YOUR GROUP USE BT'S SUPPORT? Check out BT's pages for community groups

The Big Thinking consultation has resulted in the formation of a new strategy which will run until 2015. To find out more, visit Big's website

COAST success! The campaign to establish Scotland's first 'No Take Zone' and a Community Marine Conservation Area .......... click here for more

NHS Ayrshire and Arran - have your say on strategy development. For Public Consultation dates and more information...

Does your group want help promoting its events?

Get in touch with us on 01770 600611 or arrancvs2@hotmail.com

Arran Community and Voluntary Service
Scottish Charity No: SC004057
Park Terrace, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, KA27 8NB
Tel/Fax: 01770 600611

e-mail: jim.nichols@arrancvs.org.uk