With effect from the date of their Annual General Meeting (Tuesday 4th May 2010), the organisation previously known as Torbay Voluntary Service (TVS) has changed its name to Community and Voluntary Action Torbay (CVA Torbay)

As you may be aware, CVA Torbay, as the local CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) had been called TVS for many years.  However, it was felt that the majority of people didn't really know what CVS (or TVS) stands for, or even what it means in terms of what we do.

Our National parent body NAVCA were previously known as NACVS (National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service).  Here is what they said about their name change at the time:

“NACVS becomes NAVCA - NACVS has changed its name to the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA). The name focuses on what NAVCA is 'for' rather than the organisational form of its members".  

As Kevin Curley, NAVCA Chief Executive, puts it: "Our new name reflects the fact that NAVCA's primary purpose is to support local voluntary and community action through the work of our members".

With this in mind, a proposal that the name of the charity be changed from Torbay Voluntary Service (TVS) to CVA Torbay (Community and Voluntary Action Torbay) was put to our members and the change was formalised at our AGM.  The Team like this name for many reasons, not least of all that when you say ‘Community and Voluntary Action Torbay’ the ‘Community’ comes first!  Which is what we as a sector are so good at – putting the Community first.

Our networking had established that many people who are involved with other agencies (Torbay Council – Torbay Care Trust etc) didn’t fully understand the TVS name or indeed our role.  We are working hard to improve the organisation, bringing in new funding, increasing our staff hours, a major facelift for our building, a new website, to mention just a few of the plans that are already coming to fruition.  We therefore feel it is a good idea to change the name of the organisation to promote a fresh start.  So farewell TVS as CVA Torbay leap into action!