VISIBLE Quality Assurance programme for faith based organisations
Have you ever needed to convince your management group that they really do need a complete range of policies and procedures because being a faith group does not exclude you from good practices in equality, volunteering or employment?
Have you ever wanted to prove to potential funders and partners that associating with a ‘faith-based organisation’ is not something they have to fear?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions then VISIBLE might be just what you are looking for.
It provides assurance to potential funders that the organisation has robust financial practices, and perhaps most importantly it enables the management group and users to feel proud and confident that their organisation not only provides a much valued community resource, but is also seen to do so to the highest standards.
An organisation using the VISIBLE framework is assessed using the following criteria:
a VOICE to represent issues of local concern
an INDEPENDENT and Politically neutral organisation
a SERVICE provider for local people
an INITIATOR of projects to meet locally identified need
a BUILDER of partnerships with other local organisations and groups
a strong LOCAL network of people and organisations
a way to ENGAGE local people to become active in their communities
Each section requires assessment of current practice and work to bring the organisation up to the required standard. Organisations are supported through the process with an independent advisor. The final assessment is conducted by a trained assessor appointed by Community Matters.
Organisations achieving VISIBLE are encouraged to continuously improve and can be re-assessed after three years, which is the life of the kitemark. The whole purpose of the standard is to increase in good practice, confidence and thereby raise the profile of the organisation positively in the local community.
FbRN ran an 18 month pilot project which assessed the value of VISIBLE to faith-based organisations. The project discovered how the VISIBLE programme can assist faith groups to:
§ be confident of their faith values and ethos when promoting their work to potential funders and partners
§ promote the contribution they make to community development and cohesion in a way that is recognised by the wider voluntary and community sector, local government and other agencies
§ engage as equals with other community service providers
You can read the findings here http://www.fbrn.info/more-measurement-assessing-quality-through-reflection-faith-based-social-action
If you would like to talk about the project please contact our director Jane Winter
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| VISIBLE brochure.pdf | 1.37 MB |
