Following a strategic review, NCVO has taken the difficult decision to stop providing VCQA. We are delighted to announce that we will transfer ownership rights of VCQA to the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) from 1 January 2022.
NCVO has already extended current VCQA holders’ accreditation statuses to March 2022. Following the transfer of VCQA, NAVCA (as awarding body) will continue to honour this extension period, to allow sufficient time to undertake the renewal process as part of a ‘staggered’ transition across to NAVCA ownership.
We have contacted all current VCQA holders to update them about this extension. If you haven’t heard from us, please email vcqa@ncvo.org.uk.
You may be aware of, or have been involved in, NAVCA’s engagement programme that ran throughout the summer of 2021. During this programme, VCQA holders were consulted on ways to refresh and overhaul the VCQA .
Feedback showed there is scope for both a content refresh – to better reflect current volunteer centre practice – and an opportunity to streamline the assessment process for gaining accreditation. The feedback also highlighted a need to build in opportunities for learning and development as part of the VCQA renewal pathway.
Work is currently underway to complete a first draft of the refreshed VCQA, alongside a new assessment process. NAVCA seeks to pilot the refreshed VCQA from January 2022, so it can test and refine the accreditation before re-launching it in March 2022.
NAVCA encourages current VCQA holders to take part in this pilot. Please contact NAVCA’s membership department at navca@navca.org.uk to register your interest.
NAVCA is keen to recruit VCQA assessors from organisations that currently hold accreditation, ensuring it draws resource and expertise from local infrastructure organisations that operate a volunteer centre function.
If you have previous experience as a VCQA assessor, or are interested in exploring a refreshed assessment training opportunity as part of the January 2022 pilot, please contact NAVCA’s membership department at navca@navca.org.uk to register your interest.