NCVO publish report on perceptions and use of quality standards in the voluntary sector

Research has shown that over 130 quality standards are available to the Voluntary and Community Sector of which five key standards (ISO9001, PQASSO, EFQM Excellence Model, Matrix, Investors In People)  were focused upon for the purpose of NCVO’s scoping study Quality Assurance in the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Key findings report that quality standards overall can benefit organisations providing them with a tool for organisational analysis and continual development and improvement and also put them in a stronger position to respond to tenders (with acknowledgement of the need to provide support for voluntary and community organisations to make informed choices about their approach to quality assurance and use of quality standards) alongside the need, in some cases, for funders and commissioners need to increase their knowledge base around the purpose, scope and difference between quality standards).

In relation to specialist quality standards, the report reveals that out of a pre-determined list of 27 sub-sector quality standards, the most commonly used were Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (13%), the Navca Performance Standards (13%), MBF’s Approved Provider Standard (8%) and the Community Legal Services Quality Mark (8%).  

NCVO’s report further explores quality standards specific to aspects of organisational life, organisation rationale in holding or considering applying for more than one quality standard and the overall importance of external accreditation.

Find out more about to accredit your own mentoring/befriending programme with MBF’s own quality standard The Approved Provider Standard

• Print this page
•