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ABOUT AVCO

 

ESTABLISHMENT
AVCO was established a few years ago as a multi-agency group looking at accommodation issues for the voluntary and community sector in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. AVCO was constituted as an organisation in February 2004 and is currently applying for charitable status.

ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED
Organisations that are or have been involved include:-

Access Alliance
Age Concern
ALERT
Art East
Civic Society
Community Empowerment Network
Community Transport
Integria
Jubilee Centre Users Group
LBWF Building Consultancy
LBWF Portfolio Management
LBWF Social Services / CDGAS / Partnerships
London & Quadrant Housing Association
New Lammas Lands
O-Regen
Tenants Resource Centre
Voluntary Action
Volunteer Centre
Waltham Forest & Redbridge PCT
Waltham Forest Arts Centre
Waltham Forest Arts Council
Whipps Cross Hospital
William Morris Community Centre

SURVEY RESULTS
AVCO has carried out a number of surveys of voluntary groups to find out exactly what the problems were with premises. Groups identified the following key issues:-

1. difficulty with finding suitable accommodation
2. problems with affording accommodation
3. problems with making premises accessible to people with disabilities
4. poor standards of accommodation and difficulty finding funding to improve buildings
5. lack of time and expertise in looking after buildings properly
6. problems with finding accommodation in the right location for the particular user group
7. lack of hot-desking or accommodation addresses for smaller groups
8. the Council no longer providing advice about finding property
9. the Council having disposed of so many of its buildings
10. lack of information about what is available

AVCO DATABASE
AVCO has developed software which acts as a kind of "dating agency" for organisations offering and seeking premises. It is self-administering, which means that it does not require us to do a great deal of work, but the downside is that we need landlords and building managers to make the effort to put their details on the website. So if you have premises such as meeting rooms to rent out, or you know people who do, please use the database. click here

WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL
AVCO has been working with the Council to try to ensure that Council buildings are made available to the voluntary sector where possible, and are not just sold on the open market to the highest bidder. AVCO has tried to stress that losing premises will result in a lowering of citizen activity in Waltham Forest and will thus contradict many of the Council’s other regeneration and social objectives.

DEVELOPMENT TRUST
AVCO employed a firm of consultants to look at the possibility of setting up a development trust . A development trust would be able to take over some of the Council’s surplus buildings, or acquire other buildings such as redundant churches, and manage them on behalf of the community. O-regen is an example of a development trust; they manage buildings such as the Epicentre.

TECHNICAL AID
AVCO plans to act as a “gateway” to technical aid for groups seeking advice on access, energy, planning, adaptations and managing their buildings.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to all organisations and individuals in the borough who support our aims and objectives. At present there is no charge for membership. Members will receive information about premises issues on a regular basis.

EVENTS
AVCO holds regular events about managing community buildings, improving your premises, finding appropriate accommodation and fundraising to pay for it.

CONTACT DETAILS
c/o
Harmony Hall
10, Truro Rd
London E17 7BY

email mail@avco.org.uk
website www.avco.org.uk