Quality Standards

Learn more about the Approved Provider Standard for befriending and mentoring schemes, including how to apply:

The Approved Provider Standard
The Approved Provider Standard (APS) is a national benchmark for organisations providing one to one volunteer mentoring or befriending.

The Approved Provider Standard (APS) is a benchmark for organisations which provide one-to-one voluntary mentoring or befriending. It is a national award, developed by the Mentoring & Befriending Foundation and supported by the Home Office and Department for Education and Skills, which seeks to provide projects with a badge of competence and safe practice in mentoring or befriending.

APS aims to ensure the consistency and quality of mentoring and befriending projects by assessing key management and operational areas including:

  • project aims and management structure
  • procedures for identifying and referring clients
  • recruitment, selection and training of volunteers
  • the monitoring of relationships
  • project evaluation

Why should your project work towards the Approved Provider Standard?

By achieving APS through BNS, your befriending project will:

  • Receive a 'health check'
  • Gain recognition for good practice
  • Be entered on a database of Approved Providers (searchable on this website)
  • Be recognised as providing safe and competent practice by government departments and funding bodies
  • Be able to use the 'Approved Provider' logo
  • Gain increased public confidence
  • Become more attractive to potential clients and volunteers

Next Steps