Company Research Report: Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
Company Overview
Name: Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
Mission: VSO's mission is to create lasting change by leveraging the power and expertise of volunteers. The organization focuses on empowering marginalised communities to be the driving force of their own development.
Foundation: VSO was founded in 1958.
Key People:
- Dr. Philip Goodwin - Chief Executive Officer (stepping down in September 2024)
- Donné Cameron and Kathryn Gordon - Co-CEOs
Headquarters: Registered Office 2 Putney Hill, London SW15 6AB
Number of Employees: No information is available.
Revenue: In 2022/23, VSO’s total income was £40.4 million.
Known For: VSO is recognized for its impactful global volunteer programs, which are designed to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions. The organization focuses on education, health, and livelihoods.
Products and Services
VSO is not a product-based company; rather, it offers development programs, which are described below:
Key Programs
1. Inclusive Education:
- Description: Ensures that everyone, particularly marginalized communities, receives the skills and education necessary to live fulfilling, dignified lives.
- Impact: Over 3.2 million people accessed quality education through VSO’s projects in 2022-23.
2. Resilient Livelihoods:
- Description: Focuses on equipping people with skills and opportunities necessary to secure sustainable incomes for themselves and their families.
- Impact: Benefited 200,000 people in 2022-23.
3. Adolescent and Youth Health and Wellbeing:
- Description: Aims to improve health services and empower individuals to exercise their right to quality care.
- Impact: Nearly 90,000 people had better access to healthcare in 2022-23.
4. ACTIVE Programme:
- Description: Active Citizenship Through Inclusive Volunteering and Empowerment (ACTIVE) programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), supports the development of active citizenship across the Global South.
Recent Developments
New Developments:
- In June 2024, VSO launched its first Cross-Country Learning and Partners Exchange, focusing on agroecology practices in partnership with Nepal and Zimbabwe.
- The introduction of "The Green Perspective" podcast to explore sustainability.
- Launch of VSO School App, an educational application aimed at strengthening learning for Rohingya children in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.
New Partnerships:
- A new £27 million funding partnership with the UK government's FCDO, announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, aims to affect 2.5 million people across 18 low-income countries.
Leadership Changes:
- Dr. Philip Goodwin, the CEO, has announced his departure in September 2024. He will succeed at UNICEF UK.
- Julia Lalla-Maharajh OBE appointed as the new Chair of VSO International Board of Trustees in February 2023.
Additional Information
Financial and Operational Highlights:
- In 2022/23, the organization's financial review indicates increased income levels after diversifying their donor portfolio. The total expenditure on charitable activities for the year was £34.1 million.
- VSO’s interactive and impactful approach to development helped reach 10.9 million people worldwide, with a focus on education, healthcare, and livelihoods resilience.
Social Impact:
- VSO operates on the core principles of social inclusion and gender equity, ensuring that the people they work with have the capability to instigate change in their lives.
For further details on VSO's projects, annual reports, or to get involved through volunteering or donations, you can contact them via [enquiry@vsoint.org](mailto:enquiry@vsoint.org) or visit their website.
Note: This report is based strictly on the available data provided and may omit other relevant details due to lack of information in the given source.
