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KIRK MERRINGTON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Kirk Merrington Community Association has recently achieved the Hallmark Level 1 quality standard for their Community Centre, demonstrating the association’s compliance with the requirements of charitable law in the day-to-day management of the organisation.

The Community Association decided to join the Hallmark scheme in 2009 when the trustees realised that they needed guidance and support to help them understand the increasingly onerous charitable, legal and health and safety responsibilities placed on the volunteers involved in the running of community facilities and in meeting the needs of the local community.

They used the scheme to put in place systems and processes which have allowed them to manage the operation of the Community Centre more efficiently and effectively. They were also able to call on the advice and training offered by Durham Rural Community Council in co-ordinating the Hallmark Scheme for County Durham.

As part of this process a peer assessment was carried out by members of the management committee from a West Cornforth community building.   A further benefit of the Hallmark process has been to attract new members to the management committee

With Level 1 of the Hallmark scheme now in place, Kirk Merrington Community Association has undergone peer assessment for Hallmark Level 2, which looks at the wider statutory requirements and Health and Safety demands affecting community venues. The trustees firmly believe that achieving the standard will further strengthen the management team and boost the effective operation of the community facility as a whole.

Kirk Merrington Community Association are looking forward in the future to achieving the full Hallmark award by meeting the standard for Level 3, which looks at the external role the association plays in acting as a hub for locally based community activities. 

Please click here for more information about the Hallmark accreditation scheme.

If you would like to read our other Case Studies, please click here.