LONDON, September 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Online charity YouthNet announces that a partnership led by the team behind the volunteering social networking site ivo.org are the intended new owner for its volunteering service, Do-it
YouthNet launched Do-it in 2001 and made the decision to look for a new owner for the service in March this year to enable the charity to focus on the needs of young people. An extensive open application process was led by YouthNet in conjunction with the Office for Civil Society (OCS).*
The team from the charity the Red Trust, which runs ivo.org, leads a strong partnership of five organisations with experience in the charity and educational sectors, which will work together to take Do-it forward.
The primary organisations in the new partnership are: the team from ivo.org, Believe.In, Blue Dot, Prospectus and Vivo. The partnership is further supported by others including Tinder Foundation and their network of UK Online Centres, TimeBank and a Volunteer Centre advisory group.
This exciting partnership was felt by the selection panel to offer robust, well considered and appropriate plans which ensure Do-it continues to support its partners and volunteers, as well as develop innovative new ways to support further giving of time and provide a sustainable business model for the service.
YouthNet CEO Emma Thomas says:
"We were delighted to receive strong applications for Do-it, which demonstrated a real passion for the service and the leading role that it has come to play within the voluntary sector.
"Do-it's success is something we are extremely proud of, yet it has grown beyond YouthNet's mission to support young people. We want to ensure the investment and value of Do-it is retained for the sector, so looked to find an organisation totally committed to volunteering and with the passion and capability to continue to grow and evolve the service."
The Office for Civil Society has outlined its commitment to supporting the transition of Do-it. Nick Hurd MP, Government Minister for Civil Society, has confirmed that funding will be available to support the transition of the service to a new owner and a sustainable financial footing.
The Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, says:
"It is great news that volunteering is growing. It makes it even more important that we have the best possible platforms for connecting people to the right opportunities. In the digital age, Do-it is a very important asset. The new management team have an ambitious vision which we support. I hope the whole sector will get behind it."
ivo.org CEO Jamie Ward-Smith says:
"ivo and our partners are really looking forward to this unique opportunity to build on YouthNet's incredible legacy. We have exciting plans for Do-it's future and we have put together a great team that will enable Do-it to continue to power volunteering and civil society for many years to come."
Do-it will be passed to the new owner along with its software services and database of volunteers by December 2013.
Media Enquiries:
For YouthNet, please contact Emma Motherwell, emma.motherwelll@youthnet.org, tel: +44(0)20-7250-5716 or out of hours: +44(0)7766-660-755
For Office of Civil Society, please contact Ben King, ben.king@gsi.gov.uk, tel: +44(0)20-7276-1447
For ivo.org and partners, please contact Penny Gee, Poppyland PR, Direct line +(0)1263-514805, Mobile +44(0)7702-475972 pennygee99@gmail.com
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