VAC Membership Welcome Pack

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Voting Rights at the VAC AGM

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

Assigned VAC Go-To Contact

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team. They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members. Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector. The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

Full Members Area and Content on VAC Website

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website. The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news. The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

Quarterly Members Newsletter

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Bimonthly Member Network

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members! A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

VAC Products & Services

40% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk. 25% Discount on Virtual Office – Perfect for start ups or smaller organisations, our Virtual Office service offers a postal address, pigeonhole and reception facilities. 25% Discount on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Member exclusive Training and Events

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes. All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven. As a VAC + Member, you will receive a considerable discount on all VAC Training and Events.

VAC Membership Welcome Pack

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Voting Rights at the VAC AGM

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

Assigned VAC Go-To Contact

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team. They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members. Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector. The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

Member Area and Content on VAC Website

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website. The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news. The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

Quarterly Member Newsletter

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Bimonthly Member Network

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members! A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

VAC Products & Services

20% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk. Competitive rate on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Member exclusive Training and Events

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes. All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.

Voluntary & Community aka VAC – New acronym, same ethos.

VAC has been supporting the Calderdale Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) since 2000. VAC has been evolving since we were established continuously developing and delivering needs led services and projects and is a recognised brand and organisation within the local VCSE landscape.

When we first set up, VAC exclusively operated in the Borough of Calderdale and the acronym stood for Voluntary Action Calderdale. As the organisation grew, so did our reach both in and outside of Calderdale. After the appointment of our new CEO, Dipika Kaushal, VAC staff and trustees have been working together to ensure we continue to remain true to our charitable objectives and at our last AGM, we presented our vision, mission, values & strategic priorities to our members.

As we continue to evolve, and from stakeholder feedback, the general consensus is that we have outgrown the name Voluntary Action Calderdale. In fact, we had outgrown it years ago. It is time for a change. Our roots and energy will always be in Calderdale but we need a new name to enable the organisation’s sustainable growth both now and in the future; we also need to reflect the wider reach and work of the organisation in Calderdale and beyond.

After dialogue with our members, staff and trustees, it was agreed that we needed to retain our brand ‘VAC’ but as an acronym of Voluntary And Community. In fact, our Maggie Opacic coined the new name based on what we were being told!!

*PING!*

The light bulb had turned on – It was a name that had been staring us in the face all this time! Working in and supporting the VCS sector for 20 years, we are wholeheartedly Voluntary And Community in every aspect. We champion every success, we support the development of the VCSE and we represent and advocate for our sector with passion. We are indeed and always will be VAC but with a new, fresh look and name!