We are delighted to announce that Voluntary Centre Services successfully achieved the Volunteer Centre Quality Award (VCQA) hosted by NAVCA, in July. This accreditation provides assurance to commissioners and funders, as well as members of the public and volunteer involving organisations (VIOs), that the Volunteer Centre service offered by Voluntary Centre Services is providing a high quality and effective local service.
Voluntary Centre Services is an infrastructure organisation, providing a range of support to individuals and community and voluntary sector organisations across the West of Lincolnshire. As well as operating our accredited Volunteer Centres in Lincoln, Gainsborough and Sleaford, we offer help to anyone wishing to set up a group, receive funding advice and access news, training and networking opportunities. We have an active team of invaluable volunteers working alongside staff to deliver services across our three districts.
The VCQA is an external accreditation which we have held for many years and which has recently been refreshed by NAVCA. It recognises the work we do across our Volunteer Centres, in terms of the five core functions of a Volunteer Centre:
In achieving the VCQA, we have demonstrated our delivery against these functions to a high quality standard, shown that we are responsive to and embedded within, the needs of the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, and that we are committed to working in partnership. The assessment particularly commended us in terms of the Strategic development of volunteering and the Voice of volunteering functions.
Ben Rollett, CEO states: “We take the external recognition that VCQA gives us very seriously, as we endeavour to provide the best service possible to the individuals, groups and organisations that we serve. This is a great endorsement of the work we do and our ethos, which is committed to valuing people and delivering quality services. It is fantastic that our reaccreditation comes during the period when we are celebrating 25 years as an organisation.”