The National Council of Voluntary Organisations was incorporated in 1974 as a non-profit company under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands as The National Council of Social Service. The name changed in 1990 to avoid confusion with the Governments Social Services Department.
Its mission was to co-ordinate voluntary agencies concerned with Social Development and charitable services within the community.
The NCVO works with Service Clubs, Churches and other organisations to undertake projects and services which individual groups would be unable to undertake on their own.
Over the years it has pioneered the introduction of a School for the Handicapped, The Pines Retirement Home, the Big Brother/Big Sister Movement, “Lifeline” and “SOS” (Support Our Students) telephone counselling services, Overseas Holidays for Children, District Libraries, a Thrift Shop and a Music Club.
It has awarded trophies for sporting activities and grants to sports teams and youth groups travelling overseas, paid for the training of a Social Worker and for the rehabilitation of a multi-handicapped girl.
It has formed a Pink Ladies Volunteer Corps (which runs a coffee shop at the George Town hospital), set up Children’s Playgrounds in the various districts of Grand Cayman, run Summer Camps, Pre-Schools, a Baby-Care Centre, and a Foster Home and has funds which assist with welfare needs and grants to students pursuing higher education.
Some of these services were subsequently taken over by the Government or other agencies.
The primary focus of the present day NCVO is to provide services for children and the community through Miss Nadine’s pre-school, the Jack & Jill Nursery, the Nadine Andreas Foster Home, the Caring Cousins Welfare fund and the John Gray Grant.
