About VAMT

Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil (VAMT) has existed since 1997 following the reorganisation of County Voluntary Councils (CVC’s) in Wales. VAMT is a charitable company and has a database of 450 third sector / voluntary organisations active in the area.

Currently VAMT employs 24 staff based in its two offices in Merthyr and Trefechan. Since 2001 VAMT’s main office is the Voluntary Action Centre in the town. The Centre is shared with other voluntary organisations.

VAMT’s mission is "To provide a unique, quality service, which supports, represents and helps develop third sector organisations and volunteering in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil".

The Infrastructure Partnership Agreement

Since 2005 VAMT has received core funding from WAG as part of the Infrastructure Partnership Agreement between the Assembly Government, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and County Voluntary Councils. This agreement provides formal recognition of the role of CVC’s, volunteer centres and WCVA as the three parts of the voluntary sector infrastructure. This commitment was renewed last year for a further five year period lasting until 2013. The core funding is supplemented by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Merthyr Tydfil Local Health Board.

Service Specifications

Derived from the above Agreement are joint service specifications which are underpinned by comprehensive training and information frameworks and identify who does what to meet the needs of the sector at national, regional and local levels.

In an annual Delivery Plan, VAMT set out how to deliver our contribution towards meeting the service specifications and set targets for the forthcoming year

VAMT’s core objectives are to;

1. Volunteering Service Standards

To promote volunteering
To provide information about volunteering
To support volunteers
To disseminate good practice
To celebrate volunteering

2. CVC Service Standards

To provide a comprehensive and integrated service designed to meet the needs of third sector trustees and leaders and their organisations.
To provide a comprehensive, integrated financial planning and funding advice service, to assist the sector to secure the income necessary to achieve its mission.
To provide a comprehensive and integrated service covering all major aspects of supporting organisations.
To contribute to the Training Framework.
To meet identified needs through the development of new projects and initiatives.
To contribute to a comprehensive and integrated service to meet the needs of those involved in regeneration programmes and activities.
To contribute to a comprehensive and integrated service promoting and supporting citizen engagement in public services.
To provide a comprehensive partnership and joint working service.
To contribute to a comprehensive and integrated service to increase the contribution of the third sector to public service delivery.
To contribute to a comprehensive and integrated service to meet the needs of those interested in legislation development and inputting to scrutiny processes.
To meet organisational standards that comply with the requirements of statute, appropriate regulatory bodies and accepted best practice.

Common characteristics of the Infrastructure include:

a comprehensive training programme, covering all aspects of running organisations and volunteering, available in this region
a comprehensive range of information sheets available on this website