Abstracts on Organisations - 'V'

Vanguard Movement
synonyms: Ulster Vanguard (UV)
(See: Ulster Vanguard, UV.)

Vanguard Service Corps (VSC)
synonyms: Ulster Volunteer Service Corps (UVSC)
A Loyalist paramilitary grouping that was associated with the Ulster Vanguard (UV) movement.
(See: Ulster Vanguard, UV.)

Vanguard Unionist Loyalist Coalition (VULC)
(xx)

Vanguard Unionist Party (VUP)
(See: Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, VUPP.)

Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP)
synonyms: Vanguard Unionist Party (VUP)
The Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP) was established as a political party on March 1973. The VUPP grew out of the Ulster Vanguard (UV) movement which was led by William Craig. The VUPP contested the 1973 Assemble election and obtained 7 seats with 10.5 per cent of the vote. Craig later proposed a system of government involving coalition with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and this led to a split in the VUPP. In November 1977 many members left to form the United Ulster Unionist Party (UUUP). The VUPP ceased to be a political party in February 1978 and again became Ulster Vanguard.
(See also: Ulster Vanguard, UV.)

Victims And Survivors Trust (VAST)
VAST is a charitable organisation founded on 25 March 1998 to help victims of the conflict become survivors. It is mainly based in west Belfast.
(See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
[Web Site]

Victims Unit (VU)
The Victims Unit was established in 2000 as a dedicated unit with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), its role was to raise awareness of, and co-ordinate activity on, issues affecting victims of 'the Troubles' across the devolved administration and throughout Northern Ireland in general. Initally the Victims Unit worked alongside the Victims Liaison Unit (VLU) but gradually some of the areas of responsibility of the VLU were passed to the Victims Unit. The VLU closed at the end of January 2005.
(See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
[Web Site]

Victims Liaison Unit (VLU)
The Victims Liaison Unit was established on 30 June 1998 as part of the Northern Ireland Office to implement the recommendations contained in the Bloomfield report (April 1998). The Victims Liaison Unit initially worked alongside the Victims Unit (VU) however areas of responsibility were gradually passed to the Victims Unit and the Victims Liaison Unit closed at the end of January 2005.
(See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
[Web Site]

Volunteer Political Party (VPP)
The Volunteer Political Party (VPP) emerged in September 1974 as the 'political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)'. The chairman of the VPP, Ken Gibson, stood as a candidate for West Belfast in the October 1974 Westminster election but polled on 2,690 votes. The VPP was dissolved soon after the election. The VPP is considered the precursor of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP).

Notes:
(xx)     Indicates that an entry is being prepared.
(?)     Information is a best estimate while awaiting an update.
(??)     Information is doubtful and is awaiting an update.
[Main Entry]     Indicates that a longer separate entry is planned in the future.

For related and background information see also:

• The list of acronyms associated with 'the Troubles'.
• The glossary of terms related to the conflict.
• The biographies of people who were prominent during 'the Troubles'.
• The chronology of the conflict.

Sources:
The information in the abstracts has been compiled from numerous primary and secondary sources. The best general sources for additional information are:

• Crozier, Maurna., and Sanders, Nicholas. (eds.) (1992) Cultural Traditions Directory for Northern Ireland. Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University.
• Dunn, Seamus., and Dawson, Helen. (2000) An Alphabetical Listing of Word, Name and Place in Northern Ireland. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
• Elliott, Sydney., and Flackes, W.D. (1999) Northern Ireland: A Political Directory, 1968-1999. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.
• Hinds, Joe. (1994), A Guide to Peace, Reconciliation and Community Relations Projects in Ireland. Belfast: Community Relations Council.