Our purpose as an organisation
SVSA exists to support and strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Sunderland. We provide services to help organisations thrive, and we work actively to ensure the sector's voice is heard by policy makers and funders.
We do this by focussing all our work on four core functions:
• Leadership and advocacy
Championing the sector and amplifying community voices in strategic decision making and public service design.
• Partnerships and collaboration
Driving collaborative working by building networks and partnerships between local organisations and with strategic partners.
• Capacity building
Empowering organisations to deliver great services, to innovate and to grow, through targeted support and skills development.
• Volunteering
Creating an environment in which volunteers play a key role in strengthening communities and driving social impact.
Our vision
A thriving, inclusive and resilient Sunderland where voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations are empowered to lead, collaborate and innovate - amplifying community voices, delivering excellent services, driving equitable change and harnessing the power of volunteering to transform lives.
Shorter version:
"A Sunderland VCSE sector in Sunderland that is empowered to lead, collaborate and create lasting change in communities."
Our values
All our work - as individuals, as a team and as an organisation - is driven by our core values of:
• Integrity
We conduct ourselves with openness, honesty and strong moral principles, and we can be trusted to deliver on our promises.
• Collaboration
We believe that collaboration is vital to our success, and that of the wider sector, as we can achieve so much more together than we can by acting alone.
• Inclusivity
We celebrate and champion diversity, and we treat everyone with respect, empathy and understanding, regardless of background, identity or differences.
• Challenge
We expect the best of ourselves and others, using challenge as a tool for growth and improvement.
Core Functions as a VCSE Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO)
1. Leadership and Advocacy
Represent the VCSE sector in strategic decision-making, ensuring that community voices - especially those of marginalised groups - are heard and taken seriously.
Influence local, regional and national policy, promote equity and advocate for the sector's role in shaping public services and responding to crises.
2. Partnerships and Collaboration
Cultivate positive relationships between VCSE organisations, statutory bodies and other stakeholders to foster joint working and shared solutions.
Convene networks, broker relationships and support collaborative funding bids, to help create a more connected and resilient local ecosystem.
3. Capacity Building
Strengthen the VCSE sector by providing training, mentoring and organisational development support.
Enable VCSE organisations to operate safely, improve governance, secure funding, adopt digital tools and build resilience, in order to deliver high-quality services and grow sustainably.
4. Volunteering
Promote, coordinate and support volunteering across communities and businesses.
Support organisations to achieve high standards in recruiting and managing volunteers, ensuring inclusive and safe practices.
Contribute to strategic initiatives that shape the future of volunteering.
Stronger Sector, Stronger City. A blueprint for the future of Local Infrastructure (PDF, 310 KB)
