Advonet has been awarded Accredited status by Investors in People (IIP). The award will run until January 2022 and was given less than four years since the organisation was formed, following a merger between three organisations in 2015.
The award comes at a time of great change for Advonet. As recently as April 2018, the organisation was awarded a five-year contract to deliver advocacy services across Leeds in partnership with Touchstone, Age UK Leeds and SignHealth.
Accreditation was achieved after IIP visited our office last month. They spoke at length to staff, volunteers, trustees and services, gathering evidence of the organisation’s commitment to putting its faith in the people who keep it running.
In the report sent to Advonet confirming the award, IIP assessor Hayley Allen wrote “I was made to feel very welcome and enjoyed meeting everyone.”
Taking pride
In response to the award, Advonet’s Chair Cllr Peter Gruen said: “This award shows how, in a short space of time, Advonet have acclimatised to changes in the contact whilst remaining a supportive organisation for clients, volunteers and staff members.
“Since being appointed Chair last summer, I have noticed the great contribution the people involved in Advonet have made to providing independent advocacy to the people of Leeds. In being supportive of everyone involved in the organisation, we are well-placed to help make people’s voices heard.”
Philip Bramson, our Chief Executive, added: “Without the people who make Advonet what it is today – the people who use our services, our volunteers and staff – we wouldn’t have won the IIP award. Huge thanks to IIP for the award and to all the staff and volunteers who spoke to them.”
