The Volunteer Development Agency’s mission is 'strengthening communities through the promotion and development of volunteering'. The Agency provides training, help and advice and publications on volunteering, volunteer management, child protection and voluntary management committees. The Agency also administers several grant programmes on behalf of the Department for Social Development (Community Volunteering Scheme and Volunteer Bureaux Initiative) and the Department of Education (Millennium Volunteers). These funding programmes relate to the promotion, support and increase in participation in volunteering. The Agency delivers the MV Awards programme in Northern Ireland.