Quality Accreditation was introduced to the UK Community Foundation network in 2007. It is an initiative that was developed and supported by members and endorsed by the Charity Commission in order that a standard be set universally, against our practice and procedures.
Devon Community Foundation was among the first five community foundations in the UK to receive full accreditation and has since succeeded in meeting this three-yearly due diligence test, completing the latest set of submissions for review this summer.
The assessment is focused over five areas:
And under these, there are 14 Core Standards to meet.
DCF is now pleased to confirm it has achieved the latest certification, scoring either good or excellent across these markers and receiving exemplars for its work in Wellbeing Exeter and Positive People, as well as receiving praise for the work of its Knowledge Guru and Community Insight Team.
DCF has four members of staff dedicated to intelligence gathering - the Knowledge Guru and three members of the Insights Team. This investment in the approach to information gathering results in the foundation having an extremely detailed, almost street based understanding, of the needs and provision across the county. It also therefore, provides a comprehensive baseline against which to evaluate the impact of activities undertaken and supported. Many commented that the potential of this investment was “limitless”. Increasingly DCF is being seen as the ‘go to’ organisation for knowledge of the county.”
Monitoring of the above criteria will be an ongoing process for DCF in order that we maintain and improve on these high standards wherever possible.
