Trusted Charity Mark
In 2020 ECHO successfully reapplied for the highly-sought quality accreditation the Trusted Charity Mark. We achieved Level 2 which is the highest award.
The demanding procedure found that ECHO is a very professional and effective charity with extremely well developed user participation procedures and highly motivated staff and volunteers.
The Trusted Charity Mark is the only nationally recognised award that covers the work of charities and other organisations; no other award addresses all the essential areas necessary for the effective management and governance of a charity or other third sector organisation.
The Trusted Charity Mark is widely recognised as providing a comprehensive framework for running an effective organisation. An organisation that has the The Trusted Charity Mark offers a guarantee of being fit for purpose in all areas essential to commissioners.
The NCVO assessor who carried out ECHO’s Quality Mark assessment in 2016 made the following positive comments:
- ECHO has demonstrated a clear commitment to quality and has attained the The Trusted Charity Mark Level 2 standard in all twelve quality areas.
- Staff and volunteers interviewed by The Trusted Charity Mark were unanimous in their praise of the quality of management in ECHO. They were full of praise for the level and quality of supervision and support within the organisation.
- Participant involvement is central to all aspects of ECHO’s work, and has had a dramatic effect on the development of its services. The involvement of participant trustees and the Rep Group are examples of best practice in the field.
- ECHO is widely seen – particularly by its participants and their families, but also by the whole local community – as an extremely valuable resource.
Fundraising Regulator
ECHO has also signed up to the Funding Regulator Code of Practice
The code aims to:
- promote a consistent, high standard of fundraising;
- make sure charitable institutions, their governing bodies and fundraisers know what is expected of them;
- set out the standards used when considering complaints;
- provide a benchmark to assess practices against so we can identify necessary training and monitor and set policy priorities for their fundraising; and
- develop a culture of honesty, openness and respect between fundraisers and the public.
The following four values support all standards in the code.
Legal: All fundraising must meet the requirements of the law.
Open: Fundraisers must be open with the public about their processes and must be willing to explain (where appropriate) if they are asked for more information.
Honest: Fundraisers must act with integrity and must not mislead the public about the cause they are fundraising for or the way a donation will be used.
Respectful: Fundraisers must demonstrate respect whenever they have contact with any member of the public.
Disability Confident
The Disability Confident scheme supports employers like ECHO to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to your workplace.
Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. They’re changing behaviour and cultures in their own businesses, networks and communities, and reaping the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
The scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people, and:
- draw from the widest possible pool of talent
- secure high quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
- improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that you treat all employees fairly
It also helps customers and other businesses identify those employers who are committed to equality in the workplace.
