Midlands charity named ‘outstanding’ after coming top of the class in national award

Published by kerri smith for Reach the People Charity in Housing and also in Communities, Health

A leading charity which provides support to vulnerable people across the Midlands has received top marks in a national accreditation, securing a hat-trick of prestigious awards over recent months.

Trident Reach the People Charity was awarded what is believed to be the highest score ever achieved at an initial audit by C2E (Committed2Equality) audit - achieving the Gold Equality standard.

C2E is a National Equality Standard set up in 2006, designed to enable organisations to reach their equality potential and demonstrate their equality and diversity working practices.

It is the latest in a hat-trick of prestigious awards for the charity which achieved the Gold Investors in People (IIP) award at the end of 2011, a title awarded to less than one per cent of all IIP organisations in the country. And earlier this year it won a Creme de la Creme Business award – an award which showcases and celebrates the very best in business excellence.

Charity Lead at Trident Reach Dominic Bradley said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the results of our first audit and to achieve the Gold Standard is just fantastic. We are very grateful for the excellent feedback and extremely proud of our staff for their efforts in their everyday roles which have enabled us to achieve these wonderful accolades. Equality and diversity are very important to Trident Reach and we strive to ensure that we continue the good work in the future.”

Trident Reach was highly praised by the award organiser for making staff feel included and valued.

Richard Gilbert, Chief Executive Officer at Equilibrium Network who carried out the C2E audit, presented the award to the charity at its annual staff conference on Thursday (19^th July).

He said: “If everyone in an organisation feels included, by definition the organisation is then able to deliver equality and embrace diversity. In my experience this has never been clearer within an organisation than at Trident Reach.

“I think for me the whole experience of this accreditation was best summed up by one story. I interviewed a lady who now works for Trident Reach but was originally a service user. Her experience of society was that she was looked down upon, treated as a worthless person, a second class citizen. People had already decided that she was no good and had made their minds up about her. She brought all this concern with her on her first day at work – she need not have worried, as she told me that she was immediately valued, felt included, encouraged and supported and this continues to this day and so she loves coming to work.

“That is why Trident Reach not only achieved the C2E standard, but achieved the Gold Standard with what we believe to be the highest ever score for the first audit and certainly one carried out by Equilibrium Network Limited.”

Richard commented: “After I submitted my report to the Governing Body of C2E they said that Trident Reach was a fantastic organisation, the ‘perfect’ company and must be really strong and focused. ‘Outstanding’ sounds about right. I would like to offer Trident Reach my warmest congratulations and thanks for allowing me to carry out its audit.”

If you would like to support the work of Trident Reach the People Charity through fundraising, sponsorship or volunteering, please call 0121 226 5800.