Information on the local voluntary sector

VAL holds a detailed database of groups in the city to help the targeting of our work, and to enable us to promote the excellent work and positive impact of voluntary and community action in the City of Leicester.

The data collected follows a standard developed by the National Association of Community and Voluntary Action (NAVCA) in conjunction with the Audit Commission. It enables VAL to analyse the a state of the sector' in Leicester - to then celebrate success and target resources at perceived gaps and weaknesses.

The database allows us to analyse the local sector by:

• Location of group - to identify gaps in services and activity - and to enable VAL to target geographically.
• Type of group - to assist in ensuring all communities are supported in their community activity.
• Service area - to map what local groups deliver, and enable VAL to involve groups in appropriate forums
• Level and source of income - to provide a measure of sector success and provide background data for campaigns on behalf of the sector.

VAL does not publish the detailed data provided by groups, though any group that is a registered charity is having this published by Guidestar. All VAL makes public is contact and descriptive information in our Directory (which groups can opt out of if they wish), and summaries of data (not identifiable to individual groups) in reports about the local community and voluntary sector as a whole.

We also produce a printed directory of Leicester based community groups which is available for purchase. Copies are available to browse for free here at the VAL offices. To find out more please contact Reena Joshi.