1997 - 2004

Since its creation in April 1997 the Wokingham District Volunteer Development Agency ("WDVDA") has brought forward over 1900 prospective volunteers (over 540 of whom are under 25) for its local voluntary sector. WDVDA has also, when operating its Corporate Community Involvement (CCI) Scheme, brought teams of employee supported volunteers into the sector. (Volunteers involved in these projects are not included in the above figures)

WDVDA works with 230 different voluntary organisations and offers prospective volunteers a wide choice (over 400 at any one time) of different opportunities.

WDVDA has introduced volunteer "consultants" whose skills could be used by more than one organisation. To date areas covered include: Financial Planning, IT Expertise, PR skills, Design Skills and Practical Help (DIY skills/woodwork/metalwork etc.).

WDVDA is the established local TimePartner for the national TimeBank (volunteering promotion) scheme and has dealt efficiently with over 90 referrals since the scheme became operative. Since 2002, WDVDA has been working with the national Experience Corps campaign.

WDVDA has built a strong partnership with the local Mental Health team. So far over 70 people, who are recovering from mental illnesses, have been helped to take up volunteering. Several of these have subsequently returned to full-time employment.

WDVDA has partnerships throughout the local area. It is part of the Wokingham District Council's Voluntary Sector Steering Group; Wokingham District - Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) Management Committee, and the CResCent group in Earley.

WDVDA has a strong presence in the local media. It has a regular "volunteer column" in both the Wokingham Times and the Reading Evening Post. Regular coverage also appears in the Woodley Chronicle, Twyford Advertiser and the Henley Standard and volunteering opportunities are read out regularly on local radio. Staff have featured on radio programmes themselves on three different stations and there have been major features on the Agency's work in the local press. WDVDA contributes to every edition of the Voluntary Sector's magazine and its website, designed by a WDVDA volunteer, went "live" in 1999 and attracted over 60 prospective volunteers last year.

WDVDA is a fully participative member of the National Voluntary Sector. It currently holds membership of Volunteer Development – England (VDE) and the National Centre for Volunteering (NCV). WDVDA is also a member of RAISE (Regional Action and Involvement South East). WDVDA was part of NCV's Employers in the Community Network (EitCN), where its CCI consultant was part of the best practice working group.

WDVDA was awarded the Volunteer Development England Quality Mark in April 2002 in recognition of the high standards it has achieved in the six VDA core functions. It was the first in Berkshire to gain Quality Accreditation and one of only 35 awards made in the first round.  In March 2003 WDVDA received Volunteer Development England's Outstanding Achievement Award, having achieved full marks in all four stages of the Quality Accreditation process.