OUR STANDARDS
The standards we hold ourselves to
Good intentions aren’t enough. At Ara, our work is underpinned by independent accreditations, formal certifications, and published policies that hold us to account. Here’s the evidence.
Proof, Not Promises
We work with some of the most vulnerable people in society. That comes with responsibility — to our clients, to the partners who commission our services, and to the team delivering them. The accreditations and policies on this page are how we prove, independently and publicly, that we meet the standards this work demands.
An excellent report by the Care Quality Commission
In 2025, the CQC inspected our Gambling Harms Treatment Service and listed it as excellent across all five key areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.
Independently Accredited
Our work is externally audited and certified against recognised national standards. Each of the accreditations below is held by Ara as an organisation, reviewed on a regular cycle, and kept live through ongoing evidence and assessment.
ISO 9001 Certified
The international standard for quality management systems. Our ISO 9001 certification confirms that our services, processes, and continuous improvement work meet globally recognised quality benchmarks — independently audited and reviewed year on year.
Cyber Essentials Certified
A government-backed, industry-supported scheme that certifies our cyber security controls. Cyber Essentials gives commissioners, partners, and clients confidence that the data we hold is protected against the most common online threats.
Matrix
The national quality standard for organisations delivering information, advice and guidance. Matrix accreditation confirms that our advice services are accessible, well-delivered, and consistently meet the needs of the people who use them.
Living Wage
We are proud to pay every member of our team at or above the real Living Wage, set independently by the Living Wage Foundation to reflect the actual cost of living in the UK.
Disability Confident Committed
A Department for Work and Pensions scheme that commits us to inclusive recruitment practices, accessibility in the workplace, and the active employment, retention, and development of disabled people.
Armed Forces Covenant Signatory
A promise from the nation to those who serve, have served, and their families. As a signatory, we commit to supporting the Armed Forces community in our recruitment, our services, and our wider partnerships.
Bristol Equality Charter Signatory
Bristol’s city-wide commitment to tackling inequality and discrimination. As a signatory, we’ve pledged to actively promote equality, celebrate diversity, and build an inclusive workplace and service offer.
West of England Good Employment Charter
A regional commitment to fair work, wellbeing, recognition, and development for everyone we employ. The charter holds us to the West of England Combined Authority’s standards for responsible employment.
enei TIDE Bronze Member
Bronze tier membership of the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion’s Talent Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation benchmark. TIDE independently measures our inclusion practices across leadership, recruitment, engagement, and development.
Bristol City Council Partner
Recognised by Bristol City Council as a trusted delivery partner across homelessness, housing, and substance use services — including as lead provider of Bristol Homelessness Pathway 4.
Why Standards Matter
Accreditations are only meaningful if they translate into real change for the people we support. Meet John — one of many whose recovery journey was shaped by the standards behind our services.
John’s story is a testament to what consistent, high-quality support can achieve. Through Ara’s comprehensive services, he moved from a place of helplessness to becoming a source of help for others — proof that behind every certification is a person whose life has genuinely changed.
Our policies, published in full
Every one of our key operational and values-based policies is published openly. Our Quality Policy, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Lived Experience Statement, and Complaints Policy are all available to download, along with the thinking behind them.
Governance and Transparency
Ara is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, governed by a Board of Trustees and led by a senior management team accountable to them.
- Registered charity number: 1002224
- Company number: 2540814
- Registered company name: Addiction Recovery Agency Ltd
- Registered address: Ara, Kings Court, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4EF
- Trustees: Our Board oversees strategy, finance, and compliance.
- Annual accounts: Filed with the Charity Commission and Companies House and available on request.
- Impact Reports: Published annually — browse our archive.