The Charity Commission has provided a new endorsement for Oxfordshire Community Foundation’s governance processes, as we have now successfully met the standards for the UK Community Foundation Quality Accreditation 3 process.
The endorsement is the Charity Commission’s recognition of the quality accreditation procedure that provides the network of 48 community foundations across the UK with an external veracity and trustworthiness. It also provides an opportunity for us to scrutinise our own internal processes and governance, and provides vital reassurance for our donors.
Quality Accreditation is a programme run by UK Community Foundations, the umbrella body for all community foundations across the UK, to endorse and encourage best practice in the network. Endorsed accreditation schemes:
- Use standards which are consistent with the Commission’s Hallmarks of an Effective Charity
- Undertake assessment processes that are independent of the charity being assessed
- Undertake robust, transparent and fair assessment processes.
Standards include a corporate assessment, plus five key performance areas:
- Definition and governance
- Finance and risk
- Donor services and development
- Grant making
- Community engagement and communications
The Charity Commission registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. We are delighted that our hard work has been recognised by the Charity Commission and by UKCF and look forward to building on this in the future.