Background
In 1999, Community Matters commissioned research to celebrate the achievements of the community association movement and to better understand their relevance to 21st century Britain. From a series of workshops with members and a nation wide survey the Visible framework was developed.

Draft operating standards were published for consultation in The Visible Difference Making It Happen and an extensive consultation was coupled with a pilot implementation of the standards with 15 community organisations.

At a Community Matters AGM, members voted overwhelmingly for the introduction of national minimum standards for the membership based on the Visible Communities™ model.

As a result of this extensive process, the draft standards were revised to widen their relevance to other community centre organisations and to take account of recent thinking in the areas of governance, charity regulation, trustee duties, community anchors and standards for other related groups such as Tenant and Residents Associations.

WHY Choose Visible?

Benefits for community organisations of adopting the VISIBLE Communities™ standards

  • Enables community organisations to achieve a recognised  national standard
  • Provides a framework for their development
  • Gives management committees early warning of potential problems
  • Improves the ability of staff and volunteers to manage the organisation
  • Helps organisations to stay legal
  • Is an independent standard developed by and for community organisations
  • Provides evidence of the quality and breadth of their work
  • Gives comfort to existing funders and regulators
  • Can bring additional resource to the organisation
  • Gives confidence to members, users and other stakeholders
  • Helps to frame Service Level Agreements
  • Helps organisations to become  Community Anchors
  • Can improve local relations and communication internally and externally
  • Can increase the motivation and satisfaction of staff and volunteers

 


Helpline:
0845 VISIBLE
0845 8474253

A charitable company registered in England & Wales as The National Federation of Community Organisations. | Charity No. 1002383 | Company No No. 2595247
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