The Charity Commission has endorsed the latest version of Charities Evaluation Services (CES)’ PQASSO Quality Mark.

The regulator's Quality Assessment Endorsement Programme aims to increase governance standards and accountability within charities by encouraging the sector to develop quality standards that charities commit to.

The Commission only endorses quality systems that meet its challenging benchmark for comprehensive, robust and objective assessments of how charities are run.

Endorsed quality systems require compliance and accountability, and test for those key aspects of a charity's governance that are most likely to produce a well-run, accountable and sustainable organisation.

CES is a national charity with over 23 years’ experience in helping organisations to improve their effectiveness and demonstrate the outcomes and impact of their work. PQASSO, the CES quality standard, is the lead quality standard in use in the voluntary sector - over 14,000 copies of PQASSO have been sold since its initial development in 1997.

The PQASSO standards provide the basis for the PQASSO Quality Mark - the externally assessed award for PQASSO users.

The PQASSO Quality Mark assesses charities using independent reviewers, to confirm achievement of the PQASSO standards.

Sam Younger, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said: "Through its PQASSO Quality Mark, CES is providing an endorsed quality assessment system available to a wide range of charities.

"We are particularly pleased that, for the first time, all three levels of the Quality Mark are now covered by our endorsement.

"This means that all charities meeting the Quality Mark will have been assessed to a high standard benchmarked by the Commission.

"Kite marks such as the PQASSO Quality Mark are valuable indicators to the public that these charities are committed to high standards.

"We strongly recommend that all charities consider a form of governance quality assessment to help them maintain the trust and confidence of their supporters and the public.”

Sam Matthews, chief executive of Charities Evaluation Services, added: “CES is delighted to receive continued endorsement of the PQASSO Quality Mark.

"The PQASSO Quality Mark remains the only quality mark designed for the third sector that covers all of the essential areas necessary for the effective management and governance of a charity or other third sector organisation.

"The endorsement demonstrates that PQASSO standards comply with regulator requirements and an organisation that has the PQASSO Quality Mark offers a guarantee of being fit for purpose in all areas essential to commissioners.”

The PQASSO Quality Mark is one of several quality systems established by and for charities which have been supported by the Commission.

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