"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

"We welcome this publication as a helpful contribution toward establishing an operating framework and standards for small community anchor organisations."
Bill Brandon, Head of Healthy Sector Team, Active Communities Unit of the Home Office

"Visible Communities™ is an excellent tool with which to engage our volunteers in a structured dialogue in relation to their services. Being flexible enough to be both a quality assurance and developmental tool makes it an ideal document for a variety of committees irrespective of their stage in development."
Cllr Joan Peters, Cabinet member for Regeneration, Swansea County City Council

"It is essential that management committees, who are the trustees of voluntary community organisations, reflect on and evaluate their performance with regard to governance, management and community development. This workbook is a valuable tool in enabling them to undertake a self-assessment against a set of standards. There is also the opportunity to have an external assessment to obtain accredited recognition. Having participated in the piloting of the project, this publication comes highly recommended by Hampshire County Council."
Cllr Ken Thornber CBE, Leader of Hampshire County Council