About Voluntary Groups Sutherland

Voluntary Groups Sutherland (VGS) is the Third Sector Interface for the county of Sutherland, supporting and representing the voluntary sector.

Established

1973

Based in

Lairg

What we do

Support local groups

About Us

Voluntary Groups Sutherland (VGS) is a delivery partner in the Highland Third Sector Interface, and exists to support the voluntary sector in Sutherland. Its main core funding comes from the Scottish Government.

Our purposes and aims

The purposes of Voluntary Groups Sutherland (VGS) are to promote, for the benefit of the public within Sutherland:

  • Advancement of citizenship and community development, including rural and urban regeneration and the promotion of civic responsibility, volunteering, the voluntary sector and the effectiveness and efficiency of charities
  • Advancement of Education
  • Prevention and Relief of Poverty
  • Any other purpose that may reasonably be regarded as analogous to any of the preceding purposes (e.g. relief of unemployment)

We aim to:

  • Encourage people to participate in voluntary work.
  • Assist Voluntary Organisations and help them respond to changes and needs.
  • Provide practical and advisory services to members and to the public.
  • Liaise with Voluntary Organisations and Statutory Bodies to promote communication and co-operation, facilitating connection between community planning partnership and the third sector.
  • Encourage support from private and public bodies for the voluntary effort in Sutherland.

Highland Third Sector Interface

Highland Third Sector Interface provides a single point of access for support and advice for the Third Sector within the Highland Council area. They have an outcome framework that they must work with, but how that is done is based on local need and the diversity of the Third Sector across Highland.

Third Sector Interface outcome framework (Scottish Government)

Other useful websites

VGS was formed in 1973 and is a charitable company limited by guarantee – charity number SC001528, registered with OSCR.

It is managed by a Board of Directors, currently 7, who are elected at the AGM by the membership. There are three office bearers: Chairman, Vice-chairs and Treasurer who are elected from the Board of Directors at their first meeting after the AGM and usually agree to hold office for a term of three years. Each director may serve for up to three years and is eligible for re-election after that period. The company has 2 staff the Chief Officer and a Development Officer. The Chief Officer is the Company Secretary.

Advisers may attend Directors meetings if deemed appropriate, but do not have any voting rights. Many of the Directors have individual skills and expertise which assist in the management of running the company.

VGS is a membership organisation. Voluntary organisations with a remit in Sutherland are eligible to become members. This may include local groups and branches of regional or national organisations. There are a few individual members: these are usually people who have a particular knowledge or expertise which will help to further the aims of the organisation. In 2025 VGS had a group membership of 141. The breadth and diversity of activity is inspirational, ranging from small local groups to branches of national organisations.

The voluntary sector is active in Sutherland. Many groups employ staff, have dedicated premises, have become or are becoming companies limited by guarantee/SCIO’s. Many groups require information on employment issues, charity, health and safety at work, disability discrimination law, and many other issues which require an understanding of requirements in order to develop policy and good working practices.