About SOVA

SOVA, a company limited by guarantee (No 3645143) is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. It is the leading national organisation for voluntary service with offenders, ex-offenders and their families and is also a registered charity (No 1073877).

SOVA recruits and trains volunteers from the community to achieve its objects. The SOVA Memorandum and Articles define the roles of its senior personnel and its volunteers; the mechanisms for electing Council, its governing body; the application of its funds; its powers, objects, membership and regulations; as well as the other financial and administrative components necessary to the running of a limited company and registered charity.

The objects for which SOVA is established are to act as a charity:

a) to promote the rehabilitation and resettlement of persons who are suffering, have suffered or are in danger of suffering, a legal restriction on their liberty in any penal establishment or any other restriction or penalty under the provisions of any legislation concerning the Criminal Justice System, including persons who are drug addicts, alcoholics or who are or have been subject to Probation Orders; and

b) to promote the welfare of such persons and their families and dependants within the community in such ways as may be wholly charitable, in particular the advancement of education and social and economic inclusion and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress; and

c) to promote the reduction and prevention of crime within the community and the rehabilitation of offenders and persons affected by crime; and

d) to promote the relief of the physical, mental and financial needs of people who are socially excluded due to their displacement from their homes, lack of employment or education, criminal behaviour, health, age or poverty, in particular by the provision of mentoring and education.