The Voluntary Sector - Making a Difference

Voluntary sector organizations focus on activities that support individuals, families, groups and communities. These activities typically include: direct service, information exchange, public awareness, education, support, fund-raising, advocacy, research, public dialogue and policy development.

Voluntary health organizations have explicit knowledge of their communities and areas of expertise that enable them to do outstanding work in helping Canadians maintain and improve their health.

The Office of the Voluntary Sector's objectives facilitate joint action and collaboration across the voluntary sector to address organizational effectiveness and health policy issues of common concern to the sector and the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada. There is also support of knowledge development and knowledge sharing to enhance organizational effectiveness and/or policy capacity within the sector.

OVS has worked with community groups to build effective, sustainable partnerships in community approaches to public health. For example, OVS has supported national voluntary health organizations in better serving their clients, supporting their volunteers and engaging in health policy dialogue across sectors. In 2005-2006, 26 projects were funded:

• Summary of 2005-2006 projects.

Here is a sampling of innovative voluntary sector projects funded by OVS in 2005-2006.

• The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC) - The Obesity Policy Forum. This sector development project to increase policy action on obesity resulted in increased inter-sectoral commitment and consensus, and increased understanding of stakeholders' potential roles and responsibilities, leading to a policy forum and development of an implementation plan.
• The Canadian Lung Association (CLA) - Sustainability and Organizational effectiveness.  This organizational development project enabled the revision of CLA's national governance policies, the development of a three-year strategic plan, revised revenue policies and identified new fundraising opportunities.  It also clarified the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the national and provincial associations, and increased communication and sustainability across the CLA.
• Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC) - Share Knowledge and Give Voice to Create Access:  A Collaborative Model to Increase Access to Home Care.  This sector development project raised awareness and consensus on key home care principles, leading to position statement on Access to Home Care which engages key community stakeholders in building public policy and knowledge.
• Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALA) - Enhancing Capacity within ALA Community Development Networks.  This organizational development project saw ALA community networks develop a comprehensive plan for ensuring that persons with disabilities are afforded opportunities to incorporate physical activity into their lives.  The plan increases community network service capacity and provides a framework for articulating the physical activity needs of Canadians with disabilities to provincial and territorial governments.