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The History of Voluntary Action Rutland
and the
Rutland Volunteer Centre

1980 - 1989

The Rutland Volunteer Bureau (RVB) was set up and run by volunteers with a £300 grant and operated from a small rented office shared with the Red Cross in Oakham. In 1986 the RVB moved to two roomed accommodation and funding was found to employ a part time Coordinator. A Volunteer Social Car Transport Scheme was developed for elderly and disabled people which, in 1986, carried out 100 journeys and by 1989 undertook 2,063 journeys.

The RVB also launched a national charity, The Downs Heart Group. It was also visited by Home Office personnel and mentioned in a report to Parliament on how effective it was in providing much needed services in a rural area.

1990 - 1999

The Coordinator was made full time and many new initiatives were launched including newsletters, Special Needs Toy Library, Furniture Scheme and Kidstuff for families in need. New groups are set up that support the most vulnerable people in the community and include Rutland Access Group, Elderly Persons Forum, Single Parents Support Group, Victim Support and Mental Health Support Groups. A variety of directories and guides to services were produced.

In 1997 Voluntary Action Rutland (VAR) was formed as a result of successfully acquiring funds to provide not only a VB facility but also a Council for Voluntary Services. VAR, as part of the Rutland House Community Trust, sees the opening of a new residential home for adults with learning disabilities in Oakham. VAR also worked with Rutland Rotaract to raise funds to build a Family Support Centre in Oakham which is opened in 1999.

Following a successful bid to the National Lottery Charity Board for £197,500 the Stable Block is purchased and renovated to become the Rutland Volunteer Centre (RVC). VAR moves in together with other voluntary organisations and the Rutland Volunteer Centre is formally opened by HRH The Princes Royal in April 1999.

VAR sets up a mentoring scheme supported by the Princes Trust for excluded pupils and creates a Community Resource Room at the Centre. The first VAR Car was acquired which can transport a wheelchair user in situ is renovated by inmate volunteers at HMP Stocken.

Such is the success of the centre and following consultation, it is decided to consider extending the building. The Rutland County Council agree to donate land subject to VAR finding the capital to construct the building.

VAR finished the decade with the Transport Scheme carrying out 11,370 journeys.

2000 onwards

Activity at the centre increases as more and more services are provided e.g. counselling services, family mediation, support groups for people with disabilities. Demand is such that rooms are subdivided to create more space. The number of visitors and services offered grow at a phenomenal rate. Transport Scheme carries out 11,539 journeys.

History of VA Rutland

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