Voluntary Action Fund

About VAF

Investing In Social Change and Community Action: The Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) is an independent grant-making body which invests in voluntary and community based organisations across Scotland. The funding and support we provide enables organisations to implement projects that challenge inequalities and overcome barriers to active participation in community life.

Over the last 28 years The Voluntary Action Fund has distributed more than £22 Million to Scottish charities.  Our work is testament to how often small cash injections coupled with support and organisational development activities can reap amazing rewards.  A small grant in 1982 helped to create the Women's Aid Network, and a succession of small grants helped establish the roots of the present day CVS network in Scotland.  VAF has broken new ground in volunteer practice and development and broken the mould of volunteers being one of the first to work with those with mental health issues, the unemployed, vulnerable families and the homeless.  In 1984 through VAF funding we helped to establish Home-Start in Scotland - Home-Start is now the UK's largest Family support organisation with 360 branches across the country. A number of core values underpin the work that we do.

VAF Vision

The VAF Vision has been developed to reflect the current social, economic and environmental status in Scotland and the United Kingdom in these challenging times.

Our vision is for a fair society in which strong, resilient communities can flourish, and people can achieve their potential through active participation, volunteering and working together to tackle inequality and discrimination.

We believe in:

• The ability of individuals and communities to create positive social change through volunteering and collective action
• Equality of opportunity, diversity, eliminating discrimination and the protection of human rights
• Promoting learning and continuous improvement through action and evaluation
• Working co-operatively with others and developing positive relationships to achieve mutual objectives
• Listening to our stakeholders and adopting a flexible and responsive approach to achieve success
• Fairness, transparency, and rigour in our policies, processes and decision making
• Sustainable policies and practices in all aspects of our work

VAF Mission

The mission statement for VAF encapsulates the underlying ethos within the organisation.

The Voluntary Action Fund's mission is to promote equality and social justice to enable communities to thrive. We achieve this through investing grants and providing customised support to build the capacity of voluntary and community organisations. VAF also works collaboratively with government, other funding bodies, and development agencies to promote best practice in grant making, and with the sector to promote volunteering and community action as a force for social change