A joint statement written on behalf of the Board of Directors of MVSO and Volunteer Centre Moray:

Mainly due to the Scottish Government’s wish for each of Scotland’s 32 Local Authority Areas to develop a single interface to represent the Voluntary Sector, but also partly driven by the possibility of achieving savings within the two organisation, Moray Voluntary Service Organisation (MVSO) and the Volunteer Centre Moray (VCM) are presently working towards a merger.

Funding was made available by a governmental department to employ a firm of consultants called Avante to facilitate this process and to help clarify whether the needs of our ‘customers’ could be better met if this merger was arranged. With this in mind a steering group has been set up consisting of representatives from each board of directors along with a representative of the Scottish Government. This group will look closely at what the future needs of existing members and volunteers might be and also the prospective needs of new groups and individual volunteers. This means looking at how a single organisation could best be structured to effectively meet those needs and be fully fit for purpose.

If a single organisation is established, great care will be taken to achieve these objectives with the minimum possible impact on the voluntary sector while, at the same time, ensuring the organisation has the continued support of existing members. To help maintain this essential support we will keep members updated with regular progress reports.

Alastair Kennedy            Chair, MVSO

Leo Kendall                    Chair, VCM

The Elgin, Burghead & Hopeman branch of the RNLI is holding a country Gospel Night for those in peril on the sea, in aid of RNLI.

Trevor James, Elma Fraser, and The Moray Male Voice Quartet will be performing in addition to speaker Graham Mair.

Admission is free with a collection on the night.

The event will take place in Burghead Community Hall on Friday 19 March with a 7.30pm start.