Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action

What Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action does

Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action (DVVA) is a registered Scottish charity (SC000487) and Company Limited by Guarantee (SC093088), founded in 1953 and operating as the Scottish Government-designated Third Sector Interface (TSI) for Dundee, also known locally as Dundee TSI. The organisation supports charitable, voluntary, and community groups across Dundee through volunteer placement, training, funding administration, organisational development, and governance participation. It operates from its headquarters at 10 Constitution Road, Dundee, with 35 staff and partners including Dundee City Council, Dundee Social Enterprise Network, Volunteer Scotland, and SCVO.

Core offerings include the Saltire Awards youth volunteering recognition programme for ages 12-25, tiered membership services ranging from £10 to £50 per year, central Dundee room and equipment hire, and administration of the Scottish Government Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund — £419,914 was distributed to 41 grassroots organisations in 2024-25, reaching over 4,000 participants and engaging 280+ volunteers. Additional services include a monthly Funding Newsletter co-produced with Dundee City Council's External Funding team, volunteer matching, community development programmes targeting social isolation, and curated digital resource hubs (Padlet boards) for social inclusion and mental health. Outcomes reported across funded projects include 80-90% of participants reporting improved mental health and 80-95% reporting reduced isolation.

DVVA's revenue model blends statutory funding (Scottish Government core TSI funding and Dundee City Council support), low-fee recurring membership subscriptions from third sector organisations and individuals, and transactional room hire income. Most primary services — volunteer support, funding advice, organisational development — are delivered free, with paid offerings anchored on memberships and facilities. Customer acquisition is community-led and event-driven, channelled through the dvva.scot website, email newsletters, the annual Volunteer Celebration & Recruitment Fair (24 organisations recruiting in June 2026), and partner networks. The organisation operates exclusively within Dundee for direct service delivery, with Scotland-wide reach through the Saltire Awards programme.

Name

Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action

Legal name

Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action

Website

https://dvva.scot

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action (DVVA) is a registered Scottish charity operating as the designated Third Sector Interface for Dundee, supporting community organisations and individuals through volunteer placement, funding administration, membership services, training, and central room hire from a 35-staff headquarters in Dundee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third Sector Support Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Third sector interface
• Volunteer support services
• Community development
• Grant administration
• Voluntary sector membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Dundee

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: DVVA generates revenue through membership fees from third sector organisations and individuals. Membership tiers include Voluntary Organisation (£30), Small Organisations (£10 for income under £5,000/year), Individual (£15), and Other (£50). Members receive benefits including discounted room bookings, training, events, voting rights at AGM, and governance participation.
2. Government & Statutory Funding: DVVA receives core funding from statutory bodies including Dundee City Council and Scottish Government to operate as the Dundee Third Sector Interface (TSI). They also distribute Scottish Government funding like the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund (£15 million per year across Scotland).
3. Room & Equipment Hire: DVVA offers office accommodation, meeting rooms, and equipment hire from their central Dundee location, with discounted rates for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DVVA operates as Dundee's designated Third Sector Interface (TSI), delivering volunteer matching services between individuals and community organisations, administering Scottish Government and Dundee City Council grant programmes on behalf of the public sector, providing tiered membership services to voluntary sector organisations and individuals, and hiring out meeting rooms and equipment at its Constitution Road premises. It also runs community development programmes focused on priority issues such as social isolation and mental health and wellbeing.

Product overview

Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action operates as a Third Sector Interface (TSI), providing a coordinated portfolio of services supporting Dundee's voluntary and community sector. The organisation's core offerings include the SALTIRE Awards youth volunteering recognition programme, membership services with tiered benefits, room and equipment hire facilities, and administration of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Additional services encompass funding newsletters, volunteer matching, community development initiatives, and a development resources hub. Rather than a unified software platform, DVVA delivers support through direct services, programmes, and community resources aimed at strengthening the third sector in Dundee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saltire Awards Youth Volunteering Programme Recognition and accreditation programme for young people aged 12-25 in Dundee undertaking volunteering, delivered via the Saltire Awards online platform.
• Membership Programme Tiered annual membership scheme for Dundee voluntary sector organisations and individuals, providing access to discounted room hire, training, networking, and representation.
• Room and Equipment Hire Hourly and daily hire of meeting rooms and equipment at DVVA's 10 Constitution Road, Dundee premises, available to members at discounted rates and to non-members at standard rates.
• Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Administration End-to-end administration on behalf of the Scottish Government of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in Dundee, including Expression of Interest, assessment, award, and monitoring of small grants to grassroots groups.
• Funding Newsletter Regular email newsletter listing current funding opportunities, grant deadlines, and signposting for Dundee voluntary sector organisations.
• Volunteer Matching and Support Service Service that matches individual prospective volunteers with Dundee voluntary sector organisations and provides ongoing volunteering good-practice support.
• Community Development and Engagement Programme DVVA-led community development work in Dundee focused on priority issues including social isolation, delivered through partnerships with member organisations and other public sector bodies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41 organisations funded £419,914 in 2024-25 with over 4,000 participants and 280+ volunteers engaged
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Dundee City Council (External Funding)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDundee City Council works with DVVA through the External Funding team to collaboratively produce the Funding Newsletter for Dundee organisations. DVVA serves as a key partner in the Dundee Third Sector Interface (TSI) alongside Dundee City Council.
• Dundee Social Enterprise NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDundee Social Enterprise Network is the other key partner in the Dundee Third Sector Interface (TSI), working with DVVA to distribute Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund and support third sector organisations.
• SCVO - Scottish Council for Voluntary OrganisationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCVO is the membership organisation for all voluntary organisations in Scotland. DVVA provides links to SCVO resources including Funding Scotland database, SCVO Evidence Library, and SCVO training programmes.
• Volunteer ScotlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational centre for volunteering in Scotland. DVVA refers volunteers and organisations to Volunteer Scotland for Quality Standards, Volunteer Friendly Award, Investing in Volunteers, and online volunteering platform.
• OSCR - Office of Scottish Charity RegulatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDVVA refers organisations to OSCR for charity registration information, trustees' responsibilities, and charity accounting principles.
• TSI Scotland NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of Third Sector Interfaces. DVVA participates in TSI Scotland Network activities including the April 2026 Full Cost Recovery Guidance launch for funders and providers.
• The King's FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with GSK on the IMPACT Awards and GSK Community Health programme, providing training and development for awarded charities.
• Just Bee ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue provider for Volunteer Celebration & Recruitment Fair and other community events including Face the Music sessions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Volunteer Scotland: National centre for volunteering in Scotland, running Quality Standards, the Volunteer Friendly Award, and the online volunteering platform. DVVA refers volunteers to Volunteer Scotland; both focus on volunteer placement but Volunteer Scotland operates nationally and DVVA locally.
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO): UK-wide membership body for voluntary organisations, supporting the third sector through research, advocacy, and resources. A broader incumbent equivalent to SCVO at the UK level, comparable in mission to DVVA at much larger scale.
• SCVO - Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations: National membership body for Scotland's voluntary organisations, providing Funding Scotland database, training, and policy advocacy. DVVA cites SCVO as a partner and uses its resources; both share the mission of supporting Scotland's third sector but at national vs. local TSI level.

Direct peers

• Glasgow Council for Voluntary Sector (GCVS): Third Sector Interface for Glasgow, providing similar support to the third sector as DVVA in Dundee. Both operate within the TSI Scotland Network and administer national funding programmes at the local level.
• Fife Voluntary Action: Third Sector Interface for Fife, supporting voluntary organisations, volunteers, and community groups. Operates within the same TSI Scotland Network framework as DVVA with comparable service portfolio and funding model.
• Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council (EVOC): Third Sector Interface for Edinburgh, operating with the same TSI structural model as DVVA in Dundee. Provides infrastructure support, volunteer facilitation, and training to Edinburgh's third sector — a direct functional peer within the TSI Scotland Network.
• Highland Third Sector Interface: TSI serving the Highland region of Scotland, providing volunteer centre services, funding distribution, and third sector development. A peer TSI within the national TSI network, structurally and operationally comparable to DVVA.
• Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS): Third Sector Interface for Perth and Kinross, providing volunteer matching, funding advice, and organisational development to local charities. Directly comparable in scope, funding model, and service mix to DVVA.

Emerging players

• Volunteer Matters (Do-it.org): UK online volunteer matching platform competing with local TSI volunteer referral services. Represents the digital alternative to DVVA's traditional volunteer matching and could substitute for parts of its service offering.
• Inspiring Scotland: Scottish charity that partners with funders to deliver outcomes-based programmes for disadvantaged groups. Operates in a similar third sector space as DVVA but focuses on outcome-funder partnerships rather than grass-roots TSI infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dvva.scot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dundeevolunteerandvoluntaryaction

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action