Value of the VCO sector

A key issue for the sector is that it has not always been able to illustrate its value to the Island and to key public sector fund holders.

The IWRCC is addressing this issue by collecting and collating data from large numbers of voluntary and community organisations with the intention of using this data to provide everyone with a better understanding of the financial value and sheer diversity.

We are using a database called Merlin to store and analyse the data and we are totally dependant upon the participation of all the individual sector organisations to help us in this task, as only you can provide us with the hard data.

What are the benefits of Merlin to the Isle of Wight?

  • Merlin will be able to offer an extensive array of information including:
  • Statistics to prove the "value" and "breadth" of the voluntary and community sector
  • Dispel the myths surrounding the voluntary and community sector
  • Evidence of the voluntary contribution to community well-being
  • A Mechanism to measure the value of volunteers
  • Mapping the huge variety of services provided by the sector
  • Identifying unmet needs
  • Centralised promotion and advertising of the sector
  • Provision of reports to voluntary and community groups to help with funding bids
  • Ensuring the sector is kept up-to-date with relevant information by providing targeted mailings

How can you participate?

By filling out a Merlin questionnaire! The questionnaire is now available to download as a word document form. This form can be completed in stages and returned to the RCC by email. When completed by a significant number of voluntary and community organisation on the Isle of Wight, will allow the people of the Island to see what types of not-for-profit activity is currently taking place, and will enable potential funders to see the full value of the sector

Please note that all information supplied will be kept within IWRCC and no individual data will be divulged to a 3rd party unless permission has been granted on the attached Data Protection Statement.
All financial information will only be used to prepare sector amalgamated statistics

If you need assistance in the completion of your Questionnaire, please contact Nigel Parrish or Julie Bell on 01983 524058.