On 1st April 2010 Voluntary Service Bureau along with 8 local volunteer centres and the Volunteer Development Agency merged to form a new organisation – Volunteer Now. The coming together of the regional and local volunteer support organisations has seen the creation of a vibrant and dynamic body for the promotion, support and voice of volunteering throughout Northern Ireland.

The VSB Board decided to wind up its affairs and to transfer any remaining activities, liabilities and assets from VSB to the VSB Foundation.

The VSB Foundation was created in 2005 with the following objects:

• • Change, facilitate and improve the active participation by groups and individuals who tend to be underrepresented in public decision making processes, particularly older people, young people and ethnic minorities.

• • Pilot innovate models that enable individuals to become involved in the community at local, regional and international level.

• • Support and enable the development of innovative active citizenship initiatives which promote a vibrant participatory community.

• • Support and enable the collaboration or merger of organisations of common or similar objectives working in the community, in order to increase efficiency and reduce duplication and create a stronger voice for their beneficiaries.

The key  priority for the Trustees has been to support  and to ensure the establishment of Volunteer Now as the leading agency promoting volunteering in Northern Ireland. The Foundation is committed to supporting:

• the Imagine Belfast Festival;
• the Voice of Migrant Women Programme (in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust);
• CO3 Trustee Awards;
• GEMS Training and Employment Work.

Joe McVey
Chairperson

Alan Martin
Trustee

Dermott Brooks
Trustee

Janette Jones
Trustee

Maire Young
Trustee

Sara Cook
Trustee

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