All is quiet on the CAVS front

It’s been over 3 week since we ran a story about how Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS) had been reported to the Charity Commission for the alleged actions of their Chair, Cllr Mair Stephens.

During that time we have heard that a number of organisations received a copy of the letter and that CAVS management do not believe that it is a staff member that wrote it. Nothing has been mentioned on the CAVS website.

Despite contacting them and asking for updates, there’s been no response.

You would have thought that an organisation set up to help local organisations with ‘Best Practice’ and teach them how to run/govern themselves properly would actually use those principles and let its members and the public know what was happening.

We’ve asked:

Do CAVS deny all the accusations mentioned within the letter?

NO RESPONSE

Then we asked:

We would like to know if CAVS has any comment to make on the accusations contained within the letter e.g. does CAVS deny them and what form of investigation will take place?

If the letter is from ‘disgruntled’ CAVS personnel, what will happen to them following the investigation?

Also, as CAVS are in a position of guiding/mentoring and helping smaller organisations, what would you like to say to those organisations to alleviate any concerns that they may have in CAVS?

NO RESPONSE

Next we asked:

As we have not received a reply from you regarding our questions, I thought that I would contact you again to see if Cavs have any statement to make.

We would also be grateful if you could answer the following questions:

• Are you able to confirm that the investigation is focussing on the letter?
• Are you able to confirm that Cavs managers think that the letter is not from a staff member?
• Are you investigating any of the alleged concerns contained within the letter?
• If you are not, why?
• How many organisations have received the letter?

Cavs are an important organisation within the area and help advise other groups and organisations, therefore we feel that you should be as open and transparent as possible and at least provide a statement.

Again NO RESPONSE.

As CAVS receives public funding from local government and the Welsh Government and is also a Charity, then surely we have a right to know what is going on?

We are not for one minute suggesting that CAVS has done anything wrong, and have used their services in the past and will most probably do so in the future. We even promote their projects on the site e.g. The Llanelli Multicultural Network, Purple Routes and Communities First Bigyn 4 to name a few.

CAVS is an organisation which has carried out and continues to do very successful work, stands up for the voluntary sector and is a source of advice and guidance for small organisations in time of need.

However, by adopting a what could rightly be called a ‘bury their head in the sand’ policy, this is proving not to be the right way to conduct themselves and leaves them open to further accusations. In fact, people might say that they are adopting a ‘no smoke without fire’ policy instead.

So please CAVS, follow best practice, be open, honest and tell your members, the public and other organisations/business what is going on!