COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY SOCIAL SERVICES
The Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) was founded in 1940 as a coordinating body for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in social development. CVSS is the longest serving and largest umbrella NGO in Jamaica.
CVSS is an Approved Charitable Organisation as under Section 2 and Section 17 of the Charities Act, 2013 of Jamaica and a Member of the International Council on Social Welfare.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to build the capacity of members and the wider community and create sustainable alliances, facilitating mutual support and joint action; and to represent the concerns of the social sector including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups at national and international levels.
PURPOSE OF ORGANISATION
The purpose of CVSS, as outlined in its Mission Statement, is to bring together voluntary social service organisations for consultation, mutual information sharing, planning and action. Its primary focus remains capacity building with both its membership and other NGOs.
CVSS has lead the establishment of new and innovative social programmes within Jamaica, some of which have become independent organisations. It has produced research and publications that have provided critical information on social conditions and social service provision.
The scope of work undertaken by CVSS includes:
- Membership Education and Sensitisation: keeping the members updated on current issues of relevance to the voluntary sector.
- Human Resource Development and Training: Promoting and fostering sound principles of action in the management of nonprofit organisations and providing training to all levels of staff.
- Advocacy: CVSS is concerned with representing disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in our society. It works in collaboration with member agencies to articulate issues of concern to the sector.
- Liaison: CVSS liaises with Government on matters affecting the social sector, especially in the areas of policy and legislation.
- Inter-Agency Collaboration: Member agencies meet in sectors to plan joint programmes for information-sharing, problem solving, and to address and take action on social issues.
- Volunteer Recognition: Awards are made to volunteers who have given outstanding service to organisations in the sector, and to organisations and companies who work with volunteers.
- Services to Members: CVSS administers pension and health schemes for staff members of voluntary organisations.
80 Years of Service – Remembering a proud heritage
The Council celebrated its 80th anniversary in late 2020, and as we look forward to the next 80 years of public service, it is important to remember the contribution the Council has made throughout its esteemed history.
PSOJ COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund (2020)
In 2020, CVSS helped to spearhead the PSOJ COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund, through which CVSS’ network of members were mobilized to help allocate and distribute aid (i.e. 70,000 food packages and 43,000 PPE masks thus far) to frontline healthcare workers and residents of communities that have been most affected by this pandemic (i.e. 75,000 beneficiaries thus far). This ongoing effort (which is currently in its final month), has been one of CVSS’ most, successful projects to date.
National Volunteer Centre (2007)
In 2007, the CVSS opened the National Volunteer Centre (NVC), which considered to be the home of volunteerism in Jamaica, is the focal point for volunteer training and houses the National Registry of Volunteers. The NVC has also conducted 3 national volunteer conferences in the past 6 years alone and, as of 2019, serves as the official headquarters for CVSS, resulting in all of the Council’s activities now being based at the centre.
NGO Institutional Strengthening and Training support Programme (2007)
In 2007 the CVSS in collaboration with the British High Commission offered an Institutional Strengthening and Training programme. This programme offered training to over 50 national agencies in various capacity building areas; areas such as, Strategic Management for NGOs, Project Cycle Management, Proposal Writing, Fundraising strategies for NGO’s, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, Financial and Management Accounting, NGOs in society and Networking and Advocacy.
National Registry of Volunteers (2003)
In 2003, through support from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, CVSS established the National Registry of Volunteers – with which approximately 9,000 volunteers are currently registered.
The NGO Management Training Programme 2000
As part of its mandate to provide training for members of the volunteer sector, the CVSS in collaboration with the University of the West Indies with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Launched the Diploma in Management of Non-Governmental Organizations on March 30, 2001. Classes began at the Carlton Alexander Human Resource Training Centre on April 2, 2001 with eleven (11) students.
Jamaica Coalition on the Rights of the Child (1989)
In 1989, the Jamaica Coalition on the Rights of the Child was formed from CVSS and Save the Children Canada (CANSAVE). The coalition is dedicated to facilitating the implementation of, monitoring, and providing public education on the “Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout Jamaica”.
United Way of Jamaica (1985)
CVSS, with a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), established United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) in 1985 as an organisation that would focus on the mobilizing of resources for the voluntary sector. To date, the UWJ has mobilized approximately JMD2B in resources for the voluntary sector.
VOUCH (1979)
The merger of the Jamaica Children’s Services Society and the Child Welfare Association to form VOUCH (May 1979), a comprehensive social service body. It is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-governmental organisation, which aims at providing for the total needs of children up to 6 years of age, including the welfare of the family, especially mothers. The Agency seeks to work with the community and other relevant Non-Government Organisations (NGOS) to promote good health, education, and wellbeing of children primarily age 0-6 years and to develop and encourage parental responsibility.
NGO Income tax relief 1976
CVSS for long lobbied for relief on income tax on donations to voluntary organisations. Though appreciating each small step towards the infinite goal, the CVSS battled from 1963 with the Government about the matter up until 1976; when then minister of finance, the Hon. David Coore, signed an order making it possible for more than 50 approved Charitable Organisations to get relief from income tax on donations.
Street Children in Jamaica Research (1987)
In 1987, CVSS carried out a Street Children research on behalf of the Save the Children Fund in the UK. Owing to the success of the research the Fund established a programme in Jamaica in 1989.
CVSS Advice Service (1972)
In 1972, CVSS established the CVSS Advice Service (now the Citizen’s Advice Bureau) which provides “advice, training and other support service to persons in need,” specifically as it relates to legal aid, state-run programs, social services, career development, educational needs and other issues.
A Handbook of the Social Services in Jamaica (1963 – 2008)
Between 1963 and 2008, CVSS published seven editions of the Handbook of the Social Services in Jamaica. The handbook provides information related to a wide cross-section of voluntary organisations, the texture of their offerings, the variety of their operational structures and the expansive range of their activities. It also addresses CVSS’s extension into relationships with international funding institutions and the growing significance of CVSS in the area of social development.