We’re delighted to announce we’ve achieved NAVCA’s Local Infrastructure Quality Accreditation (LIQA), demonstrating the quality of our offer and impact in supporting local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprises (VCFSE) across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside.
This award follows on from our Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA), and we’re proud to be recognised for our work supporting all the incredible voluntary and community organisations who make a difference in our communities every day.
“The LIQA is a brilliant acknowledgement of the work of Action Together and we’re so pleased that our commitment to supporting local volunteer-involving organisations, particularly at a grassroots community level, has been recognised. Thank you to our partners and staff who took part in the assessment, every member of the Action Together team who delivers such impactful work, and all our member organisations across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside who we’re honoured to work alongside. We look forward to building on the learnings from LIQA to continue to support you and the wonderful work you do.” – Camilla Guereca, Chair, Action Together
About LIQA
LIQA is a quality mark that provides confidence to local communities, voluntary and community organisations and local strategic partners, funders and commissioners.
Accreditation is awarded for three years, and is provided following independent assessment of a portfolio of evidence provided against a set of criteria based around the Four Functions of Infrastructure:
- Leadership and Advocacy – Mobilising and encouraging community action, strengthening our sector’s voice and influence on key decision-makers and funders
- Partnerships and Collaboration – Creating opportunities and driving effective joint working by building networks of local organisations and strategic partners
- Capacity Building – Providing practical support and opportunities for people to develop skills in their local community, so that they can achieve their goals and aspirations
- Volunteering – Building an environment in which volunteers and their communities can thrive, by encouraging and nurturing volunteering opportunities
What our assessment says
“Although a relatively large Local Infrastructure Organisation covering three districts, Action Together’s delivery model enables strong grassroots intelligence and relationships with VCFSE organisations and in communities. It provides robust and comprehensive support, encompassing community development, capacity building support for established organisations, and supporting social enterprise. Its formal training and development sits alongside a responsive, relational approach to meeting individual organisations’ needs.
“The strength of its strategic influence and relationships with system partners is reflected in the level of investment and trust in the sector to deliver, as well as individual successes in securing resource to establish, grow and develop organisations.
“Action Together is a well-regarded and respected system partner; one public health colleague said, “I work so closely with them I feel like we’re one team.” There is evidence that it is setting and shaping agendas, not just responding, and is using its influence not just to speak for the VCFSE but to persuade system partners to codesign with the sector, and to trust its ability to deploy resources effectively and deliver change. Its delivery model, with senior leadership in all 3 localities and neighbourhood-level delivery, enables it to draw on deep grassroots intelligence and achieve strategic impact at all levels. It has wide reach with its membership numbering around a third of the estimated total number of local VCFSE organisations.
“Public sector colleagues spoke highly of the knowledge and credibility of Action Together staff, particularly the CEO and Area Directors, in advocating for the sector, being willing to challenge and highlight concerns/issues in communities, and act as a critical friend, of having real influence within localities and beyond to wider Greater Manchester policy.
“The evidence suggests a strong culture of honest reflection, willingness to engage with challenge and to constantly learn and evolve; its commitment to EDI manifests in actions not just words. One public sector partner said a strength was Action Together’s “constantly looking to strengthen, thinking forward... They never sit back on their laurels…They never sit back and go, ‘this is good enough’””.
Find out more about how we can support your organization at https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/, or contact us on 0161 339 2345 or info@actiontogether.org.uk
