1. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
Registered Office: 19 & 20 North Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2AG
Tel: 01788 574258 www.wcava.org.uk
A Charitable Company by Guarantee.
Registered in England and Wales. Number 06531268.
Registered Charity Number 1123402
Warwickshire CAVA
‘Our Merger (and collaboration)’
Paul Tolley – Chief Executive

2. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
1. North
Warwickshire
4. Warwick
District
5. Stratford
Upon Avon
3. Rugby
2. Nuneaton &
Bedworth

3. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
A very brief explanation of what sort of organisations our
collaboration or merger involved
Originally a process started by the 5 CVS organisations in
Warwickshire.
Shire County with 5 Districts = 5 CVS and 5 VC’s
3 Independent and 2 Integrated VC’s
Discussions going back well in excess of 6 years (pre 2002)

4. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
Some reflections on how our collaboration or merger helped our
organisation to improve its sustainability and to deliver our mission.
• Ability to cope with and succeed in Tendering for core
services
• LSC & PCT immediately found it easier to engage with us
• Ability to eradicate duplication of resources*
• Ability to reduce the proportion of admin/back office support
compared with active support to member organisations &
groups
• Ability to develop back office expertise to benefit our
members – HR & Community Accountancy especially

5. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
Some reflections on how our collaboration or merger helped our
organisation to improve its sustainability and to deliver our mission.
• First NAVCA member to achieve the NAVCA Quality Award
whilst operating from multiple bases.
• Developed new entities as a result including multi award
winning community recycling company and establishing
Healthwatch Warwickshire Ltd.
• Achieved Employer of Choice Awards by building upon the
collective expertise within the merged organisation.

6. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
Why the organisations decided that this form of collaboration was the
right one for them
• Not all of them did! – requires a ‘leap of faith’
• Exact carbon copies in ethos and governance
• To effectively compete in a Tendering situation against others
• Ability and commitment to retain local offices
• Explored other models – separation versus inclusion of VC’s
was a contentious issue when starting with a mix of integrated
and independent VC’s

7. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
What were the drivers or concerns that prompted the organisations to
change from the status quo?
• Postcode lottery within one County – developed organically
• Likelihood of tendering of core services
• Reflecting upon how much Change-Up funding had enabled
any real strategic change in VC and CVS provision
• Availability of Capacitybuilders Funding
• Changes & imminent changes in Chief Officer post-holders –
opportune timing
• Financial predictions for at least 2 CVS org’s =

8. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
What other particular tips or insights would
help members?
• Funding is not necessarily a barrier – if reserves are sufficient
• Look to establish models that build equally upon best practice
• Establish a ‘Shadow Board’ process
• Engage funders, staff, trustees, volunteers, supporters early
and keep them updated
• Do not underestimate the need and energy/resources
required to continually communicate internally as well as
externally

9. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
What other particular tips or insights would
help members?
• Merger by evolution rather than revolution is easier
• It is not always about what you can prove – sometimes it is
what you believe!
• If it is not already too late – do it because you want to not
because you have to
• Stop and think about how entrenched some of the
territorialism might be between organisations looking to merge
at Staff and Board levels – address it early

10. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
Further Resources
• Warwickshire CAVA Merger Case Study (08.03.10)
The Warwickshire CAVA case study (below) from
Capacitybuilders' Improving Support, describes the
merger of four CVS and two Volunteer Centres to create
Warwickshire CAVA.
www.wcava.org.uk/additonal-reports

11. Working for a stronger Voluntary and Community sector in
Registered Office: 19 & 20 North Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2AG
Tel: 01788 574258 www.wcava.org.uk
A Charitable Company by Guarantee.
Registered in England and Wales. Number 06531268.
Registered Charity Number 1123402
Warwickshire CAVA
‘Our Merger’