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In the study of historical periods historians don’t just
look at a time period of 100 years when looking at centuries in the modern era.
There are some historians who define eras with the end of regimes or with dramatic
events which change the course of history. In some cases the 20th
century is defined as the short twentieth century as 1914 to 1989 an era of
extremist regimes and conflict. With the end of the cold war as discussed in
last week’s blog historians have defined the period after this as the
postmodern era. In the 1990s WRVS was still active but going through many
changes to become the charity it is today. In this week’s blog I thought I’d
tell this story through some objects and uniform held in the archive
collection.
WRVS officially become a charity in 1992 and appointed its
first Chief executive. It was starting its journey to become Royal Voluntary
Service. In 1997 it was decided that
over a ten year period the Government would decrease and finally stop a grant
given to WRVS to carry out its services. In 1997 the charity began fundraising having
never done so before for itself.
WRVS Collecting pot with cords. Green plastic collecting
tin, white sticker WRVS 1994-2004 logo green text "WOMEN'S ROYAL VOLUNTARY
SERVICE", "Help Make Someone's Day", "WRVS Head Office:
Milton Hill Training Centre, Milton Hill, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13
6AF", "Women's Royal Voluntary Service is a Registered Charity".
Three orange plastic collecting tins with chain Stickers: one WRVS 2004-2013
logo with Strapline 'make it count' [2004-2008] and Head Office contact
details, registered charity number. One WRVS 2004-2013 logo with strapline
"it's your money make it count" purple banner white text "one
million older people feel trapped in their homes" purple text "WRVS
home visit volunteers provide a lifeline" orange text "www.wrvs.org.uk"
Head Office details and registered charity number on the side. One WRVS
2004-2013 logo with strapline "it's your money make it count" purple
banner white text "Emergencies devastate thousands of lives each
year" purple text "help equip us to respond to disasters 24 hours a
day, every day of the year" orange text "www.wrvs.org.uk" Head
Office details and registered charity number on the side.
Like many organisations/charities in the 1990s, in 1998, the uniform was relinquished altogether in favour of casual work wear on the basis that 'smart but casual clothing was more appropriate for a dynamic and modern volunteering organisation – appealing to a new generation of members and increasing number of male volunteers – both needed to keep WRVS vibrant and right up to date. WRVS commissioned well-known Scottish designer Betty Davis to develop a new collection of branded clothing, which launched in the Winter 2000 edition of Action Magazine.
Gilet, Khaki, polyester, WRVS, Label Betty Davies Edinburgh sewn and Betty Davies white polo shirt, 1994-2004 embroidered logo on left breast, signature label.
In 2004, WRVS finalised its transformation from an organisation which did just about anything to one whose primary purpose was the care of older people. To coincide with this, WRVS changed its name and image, with the aim to modernise and re-invigorate.
WRVS Make it count flag standard, White synthetic fabric flag standard, oblong, with orange fringing around three sides, WRVS 2004-2013 logo with 'Make it count TM' strap line in purple. Brown wood pole with brass fittings, orange rope with tassels.
WRVS changed its name to Royal Voluntary Service during its 75th anniversary year, 2013. This was to help encourage more men to join the organisation. While it kept the casual look instead of returning to uniform it did return to its roots of red and green in its logo.
Tee Shirt, White, Screen Printed, Royal Voluntary Service, White Tee shirt, Screen printed to front with "Sing your Heart out for vulnerable older people" with "Royal Voluntary Service together for older people" logo below.
In 2018 Royal Voluntary Service is celebrating 80 years of volunteering. Compassion in Crisis looks at how the roles of volunteers in times of crisis have changed over those 80 years. This exhibition is full of objects, uniform and information about the charity's history.
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These items from the collection may represent more aesthetic
changes to the organisation rather than the changes to its role in society. It
transformed from a charity which did everything and anything to one which
adapted to find the places where it was needed in postmodern society including
older people’s welfare, health and hospitals and Services Welfare they are
still important in showing modern day changes. Altering its Identity in certain
years can represent when these changes took place.
Remember you still have a week to see the Compassion in Crisis Exhibition at Wiltshire Museum (closes on 24th June).