Community CVS Volunteer Centre has been awarded the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA) by the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) for the third time in as many years.

Based at the Boulevard Centre on Railway Road, Blackburn, the Centre provides information, support and training to Blackburn with Darwen residents who want to volunteer with local Charities and Community Groups. It also assists local organisations in recruiting volunteers, helps with creating their policies and procedures and provides for their training needs through the Centre’s monthly Practitioner Network. The Centre also coordinates programmes to support disadvantaged people including Fast4wd and Volunteering on Prescription projects.

The VCQA is the Quality Mark for Volunteer Centres (and other organisations providing Volunteer Centre functions). Accreditation provides assurance to commissioners and funders, as well as members of the public and volunteer involving organisations, that the Volunteer Centre is providing a high quality and effective service. It is central to NCVO’s strategy for volunteering.

Kate Lee, Deputy Chief Executive of Community CVS said:

This is great news for Blackburn with Darwen as it shows that the borough has a Volunteer Centre with a proven track record which is nationally recognised. The NCVO VCQA is a mark of consistent quality and demonstrates that Community CVS is committed to adhering to NCVO’s high standards and to effectively promote and support volunteering and social action related activity in Blackburn with Darwen. VCQA allows us to use the National Volunteer Centre Brand – we’re the only organisation in the borough, and only one of only 3 in Lancashire that can use it.

We are thrilled to gain this external recognition of the great work that our team have undertaken, especially in difficult and testing times both in terms of funding and the demand on our services. The fact that so many people are still contacting us to get involved in voluntary effort in Blackburn with Darwen says a great deal about the generosity and community spirit of local people and so we’re delighted that this will help us continue to welcome them to get involved.

NCVO confirmed it had renewed Community CVS Volunteer Centre’s Quality Mark following a comprehensive and detailed assessment process and said:

Accreditation provides assurance to commissioners and funders, as well as members of the public and volunteer involving organisations, that Community CVS is providing a high quality and effective service.

Anyone wanting more information on Volunteering, please call the Community CVS Volunteer Centre on 01254 583957.