Quality First is a workbook designed for those voluntary organisations and community groups with few or no staff, who wish to develop ways of assessing the quality of their work. Many local authorities and other funders are increasingly requiring organisations they are funding to be able to show how they will manage programmes they are asking before giving them financial support.

BVSC identified the need for a system designed specifically for such groups. They commissioned Tony Farley, the author of PQASSO™ to develop a suitable model, and launched Quality First in 1999. Using the Quality First system provides the first step in developing a quality assurance system, but it can also form the basis for any of the recognised quality systems, such as PQASSO, Investors in People, Quality Mark and ISO 9001 (2000).

Birmingham Voluntary Services Council who implemented the largest capacity building programme using the PQASSO™ based approach went on to develop 'Quality First', a model for the smaller local community groups (mainly organisations without staff). (This too has proved so successful that it is being used in Russia and Eastern Europe to help the development of their growing voluntary sector).

BVSC developed Quality First to support groups who wish to continue to be actively involved in developing their communities without necessarily becoming employers and managers of funded organisations. Many communities would simply collapse if it were not for such groups - who rely entirely on ‘voluntary’ effort.

Quality First offers them the opportunity to retain their integrity as ‘voluntary’ organisations whilst building their confidence about the quality and effectiveness of their activities. It is about challenging the assumption that every community group wants to turn itself in a ‘professional’ organisation - bidding for funding, employing staff and taking on contracts.

Many organisations are using Quality First to focus their fundraising in a more productive way and, in doing so, ensuring their long term survival. There is a lot of talk at the moment about the voluntary and community sector’s role in service delivery. But that role goes well beyond that of contracting to deliver mainstream services. It is also about plugging gaps, challenging mainstream service providers and campaigning for service change.

BVSC believes that Quality First makes an important contribution to supporting the sector’s broader role in service delivery, including its ability to campaign and advocate on behalf of marginalized communities and those without a voice. We believe this strengthens the sector’s independence and helps build active communities.

Fiona Mactaggart - MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE at the Home Office had this to say about ‘Quality First’

‘I am very pleased to welcome the publication of this updated edition of such a valuable quality assurance workbook. Small organisations without professional staff or an elaborate infrastructure find demonstrating quality and improving performance a real challenge.

It is particularly hard for voluntary and community organisations working with limited funds and reliant on the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers to follow a robust program of improving organisational performance and demonstrate quality.

Most resources are over elaborate or inappropriate. That's why a publication such as Quality First which offers opportunities for voluntary and community organisations to demonstrate the value and quality of their work and to improve activities and services for beneficiaries is so necessary.

Voluntary and community organisations are crucial partners of government, helping to deliver services, influencing policy and building communities. They provide unique opportunities for active citizenship, enabling people to contribute to civil society. The Government is committed to supporting the voluntary and community sector. In particular, as set out in the recent reports "The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Service Delivery: A Cross-Cutting Review" and "Private Action, Public Benefit", we want to build capacity in the sector and to demonstrate high quality and improved performance. It is vital that small organisations are able to engage in this agenda.

We know that most voluntary and community or ganisations work at local levels, often reaching excluded communities and making a real difference at the 'community coal-face'. I therefore particularly welcome Quality First's focus on providing smaller organisations with practical tools for improving quality.

It has been very well received, and a number of local authorities are using it for organisations in receipt of small grants or service agreements (under £10K p.a).

A major voluntary organisation is adapting it to use with their community and church groups.

It has also been adopted as the most suitable model for developing non-governmental organisations in Eastern Europe. There is a major pilot programme in Yekaterinberg, Russia that will include publishing a Russian version of Quality First.

If you are interested using the model in this way please contact the author or visit the BVSC website - and look in 'Quality Supplement'.

Quality First is also available in Braille from RNIB - contact Customers Services on tel: 0845 702153

See our 'book reviews' section to order or ring 0121 6434343. For advice on training and support programmes contact Tony Farley.