Neil Cleeveley has been appointed as chief executive at the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action on a permanent basis.

He has been acting in the role since previous chief executive Joe Irivn departed in July.

Cleeveley joined the umbrella body in 2003 as director of policy and was promoted to deputy chief executive at the start of this year.

Caroline Schwaller, chair of Navca, said: “He combines a wealth of knowledge and experience of Navca members and the environment in which they operate with a strong commitment to community action as a means of securing social justice and equality, which form the bedrock of our values and principles. That is why we are confident we have appointed someone who thoroughly understands the challenges facing Navca, our members and their local communities.”

Cleeveley officially takes up the role on 1 December and said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Navca at this crucial time for us and our members. This is a time of great change, not least here at Navca. In such times our guiding principles become more important than ever, and now is the time to reassert them.

“That means a clearer focus than ever on our members and the community action for which they stand. It means maintaining a strong national voice for local communities. It means making sure that change results in a more equal and just society; that’s what motivates me and it is central to Navca’s mission.”

Irvin left Navca in the summer to join Living Streets as chief executive.