29 November 2007
Horndean Community Association gains national recognition
Horndean Community Association has become the first community organisation in Hampshire and only the fourth in the country to receive the VISIBLE Kite mark accreditation.
The Association has been awarded the Kite mark for the standards they have reached in operating a community organisation. The accreditation, which is endorsed by The Charity Commission and the Home Office, was formulated by Community Matters (The National Federation of Community Organisations).
Gaining the VISIBLE accreditation has proved that a small proactive and forward thinking body of trustees, just eight in number, can achieve a great deal and is recognition of the value and commitment it gives to its local community.
Chairman of HCA, Marion Wade, said "Words cannot describe the delight we felt when it was announced that we had been awarded the Kite mark. We viewed the prospect of undertaking this as a daunting task, but the staff and trustees took it on with enthusiasm and experienced a great learning curve."
Although small in number the experience of the members - a retired chartered management accountant, college lecturers and the current President of the Lovedean WI - have given the body of trustees the skills and background needed to run such an organisation effectively.
The Association ? enjoying over half a century of serving its local community - embraced the whole VISIBLE process as a chance to review its work, practices, management and services. It has supported the principle of VISIBLE right back to the pilot scheme in Hampshire, working with Hampshire County Council.
Marion continued: "Other community associations should be encouraged to take up this challenge."
The process identified that HCA was getting a lot right, but still had much to do! Working through the workbook itself gave the trustees and staff a much greater understanding of their commitment to running an association and a community building.
Stephanie Linham, a VISIBLE consultant for Community Matters, said "It was a joy to work with them as they were so keen to get it right. They are a true 'community anchor', making a real difference to the community they serve, full of innovative ideas and enthusiasm."
HCA is one of only five community associations in Hampshire who 'own' their site, a 250-year-old Grade II listed building in 4.5 acres of private parkland, which comes with its own capital challenges.
The challenge will be greater as they embark on a large site redevelopment project that includes the creation of new buildings on the site, the refurbishment of the main building, Merchistoun Hall, and re-landscaping of the parkland to include the development of a youth complex with park and youth centre building. The trustees are embarking on discussions with planners, architects, solicitors and other professionals, local authority members and officer and external funders with great confidence.
The accreditation has made the association far more confident, stronger, gaining even greater respect by other associations and voluntary bodies and local authorities alike as a community association that offers services that:
- meets community needs both on and off the Merchistoun Hall site
- supports a multi-agency approach to serving the community in a key role, with development programmes for the local community from extended services ? the creation of the youth centre and its own site development project
- continues to develop existing and make new partnerships with other voluntary groups, schools, CVS over three areas from East Hampshire to Portsmouth, and its local authorities on three levels, from parish to county.
The new HCA website has a 'community page' where it offers to be the voice to the community it serves so that ideas, concerns, recommendations etc can be fed back to those who can influence change!
In a world of change within the voluntary sector, the trustees think nothing of discussing the implications of extended services, social enterprise, changes in funding, community anchors etc and getting itself prepared to support and embrace the changes as they occur ? and a great deal of that has been supported by VISIBLE.
For more information call Merchistoun Hall on 023 2959 7114