Voluntary Action Manchester - Who are we?

Voluntary Action Manchester (VAM) was founded in 1919 and incorporated as a charitable company in 1925. VAM has a long track record of providing support and development to voluntary and community sector across Manchester.

VAM traditionally provides support, advice and guidance to the voluntary and community sectors across the City of Manchester. In particular, VAM was established to:

· Provide information, advice, support and a range of services for voluntary and community groups and organisations

· Promote and participate in opportunities for closer working together within the voluntary sector and between the voluntary sector and other sectors:- partnerships/joint working, networking and information exchanges

· Facilitate and contribute to voluntary and community sector representation in relation to local and central government and other statutory and public bodies, on matters of concern to those involved

· Develop new ideas, strategies, policies and projects:- fieldwork, project development, providing stimulus to voluntary sector thinking on key issues

VAM is proud to be at the heart of the voluntary and community sectors in the City of Manchester, celebrating its rich diversity and developing and maintaining contact with the wide range of groups working in the City. VAM works with and for groups from a cross-section of these communities, and is respected and valued for the high quality of the services provided.

Governance

VAM is a Registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. VAM has always been a membership organisation and we are currently reviewing our membership structure and hope to launch a membership drive early in 2009. Membership will be open to all voluntary and community groups in the City of Manchester, and to individuals who support VAM.s aims and values.

The Executive Committee is the legally responsible and accountable body and is elected by the membership. Committee Members are both the Directors of the Company and the Trustees of the Charity. The current VAM Trustees are:

Shirley Adams (Chair)
Emile Pinel (Vice Chair)
Stephen Brook
Dr BC Das
Greg Davis
Dr Ajit Halder
Brian Leckey
Mr. R R Choudhry
Mahiuddin Choudhury
Tony Chaba

Strategic and operational management is the responsibility of the VAM Director, appointed by and accountable to the Executive Committee. The Director is also the Company Secretary, and works closely with the Committee to ensure legal and financial probity. The current Director is Robert Arnold.

Registered Office

Voluntary Action Manchester
Unit 6, Cornbrook Enterprise Centre
70 Quenby Street
Hulme
Manchester
M15 4HW
Telephone: 0161 832 0934
Email: rob@vamanchester.org.uk

VAM is a registered charity, no. 224634
VAM is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no 204472