Voluntary Action Liverpool

Voluntary Action Liverpool
Name	Voluntary Action Liverpool
Founded	1979
Location	Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Focus	Charity support, voluntary sector infrastructure, community development

Voluntary Action Liverpool is a charity and infrastructure organisation based in Liverpool that supports charities, nonprofit organisations, and community groups across Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region. It provides development services, training, and strategic support to organisations and networks operating in neighbourhoods such as Anfield, Toxteth, Kensington and Everton. The organisation works with statutory partners including Liverpool City Council, national funders such as the National Lottery Community Fund, and regional bodies like the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

History

Voluntary Action Liverpool began in 1979 amid waves of community activism following events like the 1981 1981 Toxteth riots and urban regeneration initiatives tied to the Liverpool International Garden Festival and the city's industrial restructuring with links to the decline of Liverpool Docks. Early collaborations involved local entities such as Citizens Advice, British Red Cross, Age UK, and faith-based groups including the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the Liverpool Cathedral community outreach programmes. During the 1990s and 2000s it expanded alongside national developments including the creation of the Big Society discourse, engagement with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, and responses to policy shifts under administrations led by Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. In the 2010s it engaged with regeneration projects connected to Liverpool Biennial, the 2008 Capital of Culture programme, and partnerships with academic institutions such as University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

Governance and Structure

The organisation is governed by a board of trustees drawn from local civic life and partner organisations, including nominees from Liverpool City Council, representatives of Merseyside Police community liaison teams, and leaders from charities like Shelter and Mind. Operational leadership has included directors with networks across bodies such as the National Lottery distributors, regional offices of HM Revenue and Customs, and voluntary sector coalitions like the Voluntary Organisations Network North West. Staff teams coordinate functions such as volunteer brokerage, finance, HR, and policy influenced by frameworks from Charity Commission for England and Wales and best practice promoted by NCVO. The organisational model features membership services, partnership forums, and consortia-building with groups including Community Foundation for Merseyside and health partners like NHS England local trusts.

Services and Programs

Voluntary Action Liverpool delivers training on trustee governance, safeguarding and fundraising for groups including refugee charities, arts organisations like Everyman Theatre, and sports clubs affiliated with Liverpool F.C. Academy. Programmes include volunteer recruitment and DBS checks in collaboration with agencies such as Disclosure and Barring Service, capacity-building grants via funders like Comic Relief, and project support linked to initiatives from Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It hosts networks for youth services connected to youth clubs and mental health organisations collaborating with Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and Liverpool Hope University. Digital and social inclusion work has partnered with technology partners and academic research groups from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and John Moores University.

Funding and Partnerships

Income streams have included grants from the National Lottery Community Fund, contracts with Liverpool City Council, commissioning from regional health bodies such as Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, and philanthropic support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Vince Cable-era initiatives. Strategic partnerships extend to local trusts and foundations including the Community Foundation for Merseyside, collaborative projects with Citizens Advice Merseyside, consortia with Shelter and Trussell Trust foodbank networks, and academic partnerships with University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University for evaluation and research. Engagement with national networks such as the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and regional forums like Liverpool Voluntary Sector Forum supports joint bids to funders including Big Lottery Fund and corporate partners like NatWest Group for social investment.

Impact and Community Role

Voluntary Action Liverpool has supported thousands of volunteers deployed across initiatives ranging from crisis response with British Red Cross to community arts projects with Tate Liverpool and youth mentoring schemes linked to Prince's Trust. Its capacity-building work has strengthened governance in local charities, improved service delivery in partnership with NHS England commissioners, and contributed to social initiatives connected to Liverpool Biennial and the International Slavery Museum outreach. The organisation has played a convening role in regional crises alongside Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and emergency planning leads, and influenced policy discussions at forums attended by representatives from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and national policymakers.

Awards and Recognition

The organisation and its staff have received commendations and awards from bodies such as the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, recognition from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations for good practice, and local civic awards from Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. Collaborative projects have gained funding and accolades from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund grants, and sector awards presented by Third Sector and Charity Awards panels.

Category:Charities based in Merseyside