Welcome to VISIBLE Communities™ quality systems and standards for the community sector. Developed by Community Matters in consultation with its members and other core stakeholders, VISIBLE Communities™ is a unique approach to promoting quality and best practice in the community sector.
VISIBLE Communities™ is based around a set of seven principles that we believe underpin strong sustainable community organisations.
By sustainable we mean well run, financially sound, and delivers high quality social impacts.
On the VISIBLE Communities™ website you can find out about:
- The VISIBLE Standard the nationally accredited quality standard for community organisations. This standard is aimed at medium to large community organisations often referred to as community anchors. However, with the ability to shape the quality standard to fit your organisation by choosing which indicators to measure yourself against many other community organisations beyond just community anchors can benefit from the VISIBLE Standard.
- The PreVISIBLE Review. Based upon key elements of the VISIBLE Standard, this development tool is aimed at community groups of all shapes and sizes and provides (a) an opportunity for groups to reflect upon and develop their statutory and legal obligations and minimum best practice and (b) an opportunity to have these quality systems independently reviewed..
You will also find on the website extensive guidance on best practice for community groups and how to implement it along with sign-posting to further information.
ENDORSEMENTS
"Community associations and other charities that provide space and facilities for community services and activities make an enormous difference to the well being of local communities. Quality standards and frameworks play an important role in encouraging good practice and helping charities to review and improve their effectiveness, most importantly in meeting the needs of the people and communities they were set up to benefit. The Visible Communities™ standards have been designed by and for community associations. The Charity Commission welcomes the publication of these standards, and hopes that all community associations will make use of them."
Geraldine Peacock, Chair of the Charity Commission
"The Local Government Association warmly welcomes the Visible Communities™ health check tool as a constructive development which will encourage the setting of benchmark standards across community associations. The tool benefits from being highly versatile, both for use in quality assurance, and organisational development. The LGA feels sure that local authorities, and in turn local communities, will benefit from its use through the fostering of good practice and a better understanding of the strengths and abilities of community associations."
Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Chair of the Local Government Association
