Voluntary Action Orkney

What Voluntary Action Orkney does

Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) is the statutory Third Sector Interface (TSI) for the Orkney Islands, a charitable company limited by guarantee founded in 1982 and headquartered in Kirkwall. VAO supports and develops the local third sector by providing advice, training, governance guidance, fundraising support, and operational services to charities, community groups, and social enterprises. It also coordinates volunteer recruitment and management, administering Scotland's Saltire Awards youth volunteering scheme locally and maintaining the Orkney Community Directory of 673 organisations. Its two flagship projects are the Connect Project (a flexible support service for young people aged 15-21 leaving school or college) and the Community Link Practitioner Service (embedded in NHS Orkney GP practices to connect patients to non-medical community support).

The organisation operates with 17 named staff across functions including organisational development, finance, volunteering, youth development, and communications. Revenue is derived from a mix of annual membership subscriptions (£15/year for groups, £7.20 waged individuals, £3.60 unwaged), fee-based bookkeeping and payroll services (using QuickBooks), grant administration (e.g., the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund from which over £400,000 was directed into Orkney over five years), and funding from partners including the Scottish Government Primary Care Improvement Fund for the Community Link service. Technology is limited to standard business software (QuickBooks, Microsoft Teams, Mailchimp, web forms) with no proprietary platform. VAO operates a community-led go-to-market with 21 strategic partnerships spanning the Integration Joint Board, The Orkney Partnership Board, NHS Orkney, local councils, and academic partners, and is currently developing a new Community Hub in Kirkwall as a shared space for the local third sector.

Name

Voluntary Action Orkney

Legal name

Voluntary Action Orkney

Website

https://vaorkney.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Voluntary Action Orkney is Orkney's statutory Third Sector Interface, supporting 673 charities, community groups, and social enterprises with advice, training, volunteer coordination, finance services, and youth programmes across the Orkney Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third Sector Support Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Third sector support
• Volunteer coordination
• Community development services
• Charity advisory services
• Volunteer matching platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkwall

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees from organizations and individuals. Provides members with access to e-bulletins, priority training access, networking opportunities, and discounts on services.
2. Finance and Payroll Services: Charges for bookkeeping, payroll, and independent examination services. Members receive reduced rates. Services include bookkeeping in QuickBooks/Excel, payroll processing, and preparation of annual accounts.
3. Training Services: Provides regular training sessions on governance, finance, fundraising, health and safety, risk assessment, Fair Work, cyber crime, and legal status topics. Also offers bespoke training tailored to organizational needs.
4. Managed Grants Administration: VAO administers and disperses several funds supporting community activities across Orkney. Manages open funds list and facilitates grant distribution to local organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Voluntary Action Orkney is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for Orkney, providing advice, training, governance support, finance and payroll services, volunteer coordination, and project delivery to charities, community groups, social enterprises, and individual volunteers across the Orkney Islands. It maintains the Orkney Community Directory of 673+ organisations and operates flagship programmes including the Connect Project for young people and the Community Link Practitioner Service in GP practices.

Product overview

Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) is Orkney's Third Sector Interface organization offering a portfolio of support services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: organizational support services (training, governance, crisis management, funding advice); finance and payroll services; two key projects (Connect Project for youth aged 15-21 and Community Link Practitioner Service for health referrals); the Orkney Community Directory (673+ organisations); youth volunteering groups; and a membership programme. All services are provided free at point of use with some paid services for bookkeeping, payroll, and accounts preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Training Services Regular training sessions for charities and community groups on governance, finance and budgeting, fundraising, health and safety, risk assessment, Fair Work, cyber crime prevention, legal status, and trustee responsibilities. Bespoke tailor-made training sessions are also offered for specific organizational needs.
• Organisational Health Check Assessment service that reviews organisational performance across vision, mission, financial management, constitution and governance, policies and procedures, staff and volunteers, facilities and IT, quality and impact, and communications and marketing. Provides clear action plans for improvements.
• Finance and Payroll Services Comprehensive charity accounting support including bookkeeping using QuickBooks, Excel, or the organisation's own software, payroll services for charity organisations and community groups, annual accounts preparation, Independent Examinations for organisations with income up to £500,000, and general finance support on a one-off, short or long-term basis.
• Connect Project Flexible support service for young people aged 15-21 who are leaving school or college and are unsure of their next steps. Offers a safe space to build confidence and skills through personalised plans focusing on social skills, communication, creativity, and independent living skills.
• Community Link Practitioner Service Flexible support service working within GP practices to help people find and access services that improve health and wellbeing. Practitioners assist with finding local community groups, sourcing advice on money and benefits, housing, and can accompany patients to appointments until they feel confident enough to attend independently.
• Orkney Community Directory Online searchable directory of community groups, charities, voluntary organisations, and other support services across Orkney. Contains information on 673+ organisations categorized by activity type.
• Organisational Support Services Advisory and practical support for groups and organisations including establishing new groups, crisis management, governance guidance, funding and fundraising assistance, winding up a charity, and volunteer recruitment support.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Management Support Services to help organisations find volunteers through advertising on website, social media and newsletter. Also provides guidance on volunteer policies, PVG checks, managing volunteers, insurance, and expenses policies.
• Youth Volunteering Groups Various volunteering projects for young people including Get Ready to Volunteer course, Intergenerational Projects at care centres, Orkney Youth Awards, ROAR project, Youth Local Action Group (YLAG), and Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).
• Membership Programme Membership scheme for individuals, community groups, charities, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises in Orkney. Benefits include e-bulletins, priority access to training, networking opportunities, and discounts on selected services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £400,000 brought into Orkney through five years of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core, major and significant.

• Wintering Well Project (Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025UKRI-funded initiative expanding to Orkney to help residents with low mood and SAD through borrowing therapy lamps and wellbeing resources from libraries.
• The Orkney Partnership Board (TOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings together organisations to facilitate community planning in line with the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
• Integration Joint Board (IJB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees governance for the Integration Authority managing services from NHS Orkney and Orkney Islands Council. Responsible for strategic planning of delegated health and social care services serving Orkney's ~22,400 population.
• Orkney Health and Care Strategic Planning GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports development and review of the Partnership's Strategic Plan, provides stakeholder advice to IJB, and encourages engagement in designing health and care services across islands.
• Third Sector Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides a platform for third sector managers to share information, gain peer support, and strengthen links between organisations.
• Children Services Strategic GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocuses on ensuring Orkney's children and young people receive the support they are entitled to. Develops and monitors plans to improve services for children and families.
• Local Action Group (LAG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdentifies, develops and supports opportunities for rural and island development. Manages delivery of Community Led Vision Plan underpinning the CLLD initiative.
• Orkney Public Protection CommitteemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of agencies raising child protection awareness, coordinating prevention activities, offering guidance and training, and implementing national initiatives.
• Community Wealth Building (Orkney Partnership Delivery Group)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports local businesses, promotes fair employment, reduces poverty, and encourages low-carbon practices through shorter supply chains.
• Sustainable Development Delivery GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes community wealth building, Just Transition to sustainable economy, net-zero emissions by 2030, and strategies to protect communities from climate change.
• Cost of Living TaskforcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates efforts to tackle fuel and child poverty, combining actions from key local strategies into a single action plan.
• Youth Local Action Group (YLAG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpowers young people aged 16-30 to be decision makers about funding towards particular problems, issues or youth projects.
• Youth Workers ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAids and encourages partnership working between members. Discussions shaped by members' work plans with subgroups taking forward joint initiatives.
• Islands Growth Deal - Advisory ForumsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngages business, academic, and community sectors to guide implementation of the Islands Growth Deal for economic development across islands.
• Orkney Partnership for Action Against Gender Based Violence and AbusesignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerAims to reduce domestic abuse incidents, promote collaboration between sectors, and ensure quality services to protect adults and children at risk.
• Orkney Business ForumsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides forum for strategic influence between Orkney businesses and Community Planning Partners, accountable to all businesses and representative groups.
• Local Employability Partnership (LEP)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings together organisations to improve employability support in Orkney, aligned with local needs and National Performance Framework.
• Orkney Community Justice PartnershipsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to achieve positive outcomes for people with convictions, victims, witnesses, and communities, supporting reintegration and reducing reoffending.
• Joint Clinical and Care Governance CommitteesignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnsures robust clinical and care governance across delegated and non-delegated health and social care services.
• Orkney Local Emergency Coordinating Group (OLECG)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates local emergency planning and response efforts, ensuring agencies work together effectively under Civil Contingencies Act.
• Sustainable Travel GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocuses on improving sustainable travel options by coordinating investments and strategies.
• Local Equality Delivery GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocuses on reducing socio-economic inequalities, especially in ferry-linked islands, by supporting community-led development plans.
• NHS OrkneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAO works in partnership with NHS Orkney through GP practices to provide the Community Link Service, funded by Scottish Government Primary Care Improvement Fund.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): The national representative body for Scotland's voluntary sector, providing umbrella support, policy advocacy, and member services. SCVO is the closest broad equivalent to VAO at the national level, operating analogous functions including training, governance support, and digital infrastructure for charities.
• Volunteer Scotland: Scotland's national volunteer development agency, similar in mission to VAO's volunteer coordination and development functions. Administers the Saltire Awards programme that VAO delivers locally, making them both strategic partner and upper-tier peer.
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO): UK-wide membership body for the voluntary sector providing policy, research, and member support. Operates in a similar space to VAO but at national scale, offering governance, funding, and operational guidance to its member charities.

Direct peers

• Tayside Council for Voluntary Services (TCVS): Another one of Scotland's 32 Third Sector Interfaces, providing nearly identical services to community groups, charities, and social enterprises in the Tayside region. Operates the same mix of training, governance support, volunteer coordination, and member services as VAO.
• Highlands & Islands Third Sector Interface (HTSI): TSI covering the broader Highlands and Islands region, overlapping with VAO's geographic scope. Provides the same statutory Third Sector Interface functions, including training, funding advice, and community sector support, making it a directly comparable peer organisation.
• Fife Voluntary Action: Another Scottish Third Sector Interface based in Fife, performing the same statutory role as VAO with a comparable service portfolio including training, volunteer coordination, organisational support, and community development.

Regional players

• Dundee Volunteer Centre: Regional volunteer centre in Scotland offering volunteer matching and development services similar to VAO's volunteering function. While not a full TSI, it shares VAO's focus on connecting volunteers with community organisations in a defined geographic area.

Others

• Communities Channel: UK-wide platform for community organisations providing directory, training resources, and funding information. While operating at national scale and as a digital platform, it addresses the same organisational needs that VAO addresses locally through its Orkney Community Directory.
• Orkney Islands Council: Local government partner that co-funds community planning with VAO and is one of the principal public sector partners. While not a charity support organisation in the same sense, it shares VAO's territorial focus and is involved in many of the same community initiatives.
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE): Economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands. VAO's board includes a former HIE area team member, reflecting the operational overlap in supporting community groups, development trusts, and social enterprises across the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vaorkney
• Facebookfacebook.com/VoluntaryActionOrkney
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/voluntary-action-orkney

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Voluntary Action Orkney