Our experience with the VCQA: NAVCA member shares their story

Every community should have access to high quality volunteering services in their local area. To support this, we offer all Volunteer Centres the opportunity to undertake the VCQA (Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation). Through the VCQA process, organisations have a valuable opportunity to reflect on their work, learn more about their strengths and areas for development and, ultimately, ensure that their work has impact and value. But how does a VCQA-accredited organisation actually feel about the process? In this blog post, NAVCA member Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) explores their experience of the VCQA in five steps.

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Step 1: Deciding. The VCQA is open to all organisations offering volunteer centre services, supporting volunteering in their local communities, and it’s a big commitment to put time and energy into. We asked VANS why they wanted to apply for the VCQA:

VANS: ‘’Volunteering is core to our work at VANS, and we believe that reflecting on our current practice and being given external feedback is critical to improving and celebrating volunteering in North Somerset.’’

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Step 2: Applying. Once an organisation has committed to going through the VCQA process, NAVCA provides them with a detailed framework and guidance. The applicant begins to gather case studies and important documents, and works with their team to put together an application. We asked VANS how they found the VCQA application process, and what they learnt.

VANS: “It was a straightforward process that was very thought provoking and made us reflect on our everyday practice.

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We learned that we need to continually collect the evidence of the impact that our work is having.  It is very easy to do something and not build in time to really learn from and celebrate the impacts that volunteers have made to improving people’s lives in North Somerset.

Step 3: Achieving! Through an independent assessment process, organisations that meet or exceed the requirements are accredited by NAVCA with the VCQA. This is a fantastic achievement, and we want to celebrate the importance and impact of the accreditation. We asked VANS what benefits they think achieving the VCQA will provide for their local voluntary and community sector.

VANS: “It is a quality mark that shows we are doing the right things and that we have been approved by an external body.  Accreditation reflects everyone’s hard work and we could not have done it without the hardwork of other organisations. It enables us to share our insights and learning across the wider voluntary sector, enabling us to enhance volunteering and good practice across North Somerset and wider. Going through the accreditation process has given us the space to assess our volunteer program, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes. The VCQA can also provide prospective volunteers and VCFSE organisations with the assurance that they are working with a well-managed and reputable organisation. It can also help retain volunteers by demonstrating a commitment to their well-being and satisfaction.”

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Step 4: Collaborating. One key outcome of the VCQA is being able to demonstrate to project partners and stakeholders that the accredited organisation provides high-quality volunteering services and is a trusted partner. We asked VANS what benefits they think the VCQA will bring for their local statutory partner.

VANS: “[Achieving the VCQA will bring] reassurance that we are a trusted organisation for volunteering, we have been independently assessed and our good practice is confirmed. We can speak with authority to health bodies and the local authority, and our input is recognised and acknowledged externally.”

Step 5: Sharing. We think the VCQA is great, but don’t just take our word for it! We ask all Quality Accreditation holders to share their experiences, and why they think other organisations should go through the process. So, finally, we asked VANS what they would say to someone who was also applying for the VCQA, and how would they summarise the experience?

VANS: “Gather your evidence as you go, start early with this and keep it well organised.  Remember it’s not what you do as an organisation, but how you evidence that, and what is the impact this is having on the VCSE sector. The VCQA was a lot of work and a rigorous process and we feel we have earned it.  We really had to work for it which gives it real value.  We really appreciate the advice and support and the feedback.  We are ecstatic to have achieved it.’’

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We’d like to say a huge congratulations to Voluntary Action North Somerset for their fantastic achievement in supporting their local communities with volunteering.

You can read more about the VCQA here.