NCVO transferred the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA) to NAVCA on 1 January 2022.
The two infrastructure bodies came to an agreement after NCVO conducted a strategic review of the service. No financial transaction was involved in the transfer.
Established in 2001, the VCQA is a quality assurance mark for volunteer centres and lasts for three years before an organisation must be reassessed for VCQA status.
The quality mark allows funders, the public and potential volunteers to verify that the organisation is providing the most effective service. Over 90% of volunteer centres have achieved VCQA standard.
NCVO transferred VCQA to become more ‘focused’
An NCVO spokesperson told Civil Society News that the decision was partly so that the umbrella body could be more focused on member services.
They said: “Following a strategic review, NCVO took the difficult decision to stop providing VCQA as a part of a wider decision for us to be more focused in the services we offer to members and the work we carry out to support civil society. We support the continuation of this important mark and wish NAVCA and all VCQA holders and applicants the very best for the future.”
Refreshed offer
NAVCA ran an engagement programme in summer 2021 where VCQA holders were consulted on ways to refresh the accreditation. The feedback it received suggested there is potential for a content refresh and an opportunity to streamline how organisations are assessed for accreditation.
NAVCA is now undertaking a review of VCQA, which currently costs £2,250 plus VAT. The accreditation is due to launch again in March, with current VCQA holders having the award extended to March 2022 to stagger the transition to NAVCA.
This refresh could include anything from a change in pricing to a redevelopment of the assessment process.
A first draft of the refreshed VCQA is due to be piloted this month, NAVCA has said, so it can be trialled before it is relaunched in March.
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