Children's charity, Spurgeons, has been awarded an Investors in People accreditation.

Investors in People is the government-owned organisation responsible for setting a best practice people management standard. It defines what it takes to lead, support and manage people well for sustainable results and is held by 14,000 organisations globally.

Spurgeons is a leading children's charity of Christian origin, and has supported children, young people and their families for almost 150 years. Its assessment, which began in November 2015, saw Investors in People practitioner, Steve Dodd, interview over 80 staff members and 10 volunteers as part of the rigorous assessment process.

Dodd says, “Spurgeons has some fantastic practices that are consistently achieved throughout the organisation. Spurgeons has a strong ethos and this is supported by its people, whose professional and personal values are very much in line with the organisation, and consistent with the Investor in People Standard.”

Ross Hendry, CEO at Spurgeons, says, “We are delighted to now be an accredited Investors in People employer. It acknowledges both the hard work of our staff and the values of compassion, inclusion and hope through all we do. Every person in Spurgeons is important because as we support, empower and develop our workforce we become equipped to provide disadvantaged and vulnerable children with a better present and more hopeful future.”

Spurgeons works with families who are disadvantaged or struggling to cope with their difficulties, and children and young people who carry emotional burdens, heavy responsibilities or who are at risk of harm or exploitation. Dodd noted that staff members and volunteers were particularly motivated with regards to both the charity's wider purpose, and their role within that.