11 July 2011

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales has endorsed Community Matters' VISIBLE Standards 2011.

This comes as part of the Commission's Quality Standards Endorsement Programme, which supports the development of quality standards used to assess how well charities are run.

Community Matters (The National Federation of Community Organisations - 1002383) is the umbrella body for 1200 member organisations across the UK, many of them charitable community associations in England and Wales. The VISIBLE Standards 2011 define best practice for individual charities, and will be used to accredit those organisations that achieve the standards.

The Commission has helped Community Matters develop the standards, which are now formally endorsed. The Commission's endorsement process assesses whether the quality standards are in line with the Commission's guidance Hallmarks of an Effective Charity and whether the accreditation process meets the requirements of the Commission's Terms of Endorsement.

Sam Younger, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said:

"I am delighted that we are able to endorse Community Matters‘ VISIBLE Standards 2011. The new standards are a clear and continuing demonstration of Community Matters' commitment to encourage best practice in the sector. We are going to rely ever more heavily as a regulator on the work of umbrella bodies like Community Matters to help charities avoid problems from occurring.

Community Matters Chief Executive David Tyler said::

"We are delighted to renew our relationship with the Charity Commission and to receive this endorsement. VISIBLE continues to be one of the leading quality standards for the community sector and is a very effective way of developing and implementing best practice in community organisations."

Other charities whose quality standards have been recently endorsed by the Commission include Community Foundation Network, ACRE and YMCA.

End.

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PR 37/11

Notes to Editors

1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. See www.charitycommission.gov.uk for further information or call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218.

2. Our mission is: to ensure charities' legal compliance, enhance charities' accountability, encourage charities' effectiveness and impact and to promote the public interest in charity.

3. In June 2009 The Charity Commission published its ‘Big Board Talk' - 15 questions all charities need to ask. Go to: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/about_us/about_the_commission/ccnews29check.aspx.

4. 98% of the public feel that the role of the Charity Commission is important.
(Ipsos MORI research, May 2008).

5. There are over 4 million visitors a year to the Charity Commission's website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk.

6. For information about the Charity Commission's Quality Standards Endorsement Programme, go to: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/About_us/About_the_Commission/endorsement_qs.aspx

Community Matter Notes to Editors

1. Community Matters is the largest network of neighbourhood community centres and voluntary community groups in the UK with over 1,200 members. Founded in 1946, it stands for the collective action of ordinary people within a community of place through inclusive, locally-rooted and democratic community organisations. We believe that these local voluntary community groups are the backbone of civil society; they are essential to the welfare of the neighbourhoods in which they operate and the individuals that live there. www.communitymatters.org.uk/

2. VISIBLE Communities™ is a unique approach to promoting quality and best practice in the community sector. It's based around a set of seven core principles that underpin strong, sustainable community organisations:

• 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 needs
• 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.

VISIBLE Communities™ includes two tools - the VISIBLE Accredited Standards and the preVISIBLE Review. More information about VISIBLE can be found at www.visiblecommunities.org.uk/