The Compact
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The Compact and Public Law Training Events
Download a copy of the refreshed Compact
On 16th December 2009, the refreshed national Compact was launched. In comparison to the original Compact, launched in 1998, the refreshed Compact is a much shorter and focused document and designed to improve the way in which Government and the third sector work together to ultimately benefit communities and individuals.
You can download a copy of the Compact at the links below:
The Compact (PDF 364KB)
Introduction (PDF 282KB)
To learn more about the refreshed Compact please feel free to download The Compact Refresh: FAQs
LATEST NEWS
New map shows good partnership working between government and charities
New findings show how the government’s vision of a big society already exists in many local communities. Compact Voice, the charity responsible for representing the community and voluntary sector on the Compact – the agreement which outlines how charities and government work together - has published a unique map, showing the difference local partnerships have made across the country.
The map highlights 15 “green-flagged” areas where using the Compact has delivered real benefits to transform the lives of people and groups in the community.
These benefits include delivering better services, such as in initiatives to tackle poverty, encourage local volunteering and address health needs. Good partnerships can also help give voice to marginalised groups and help minimise the impact of the spending cuts that many areas are currently facing.
Further local areas will be highlighted in the future with the map updated as additional examples are gathered and Compact Voice encourages local groups to contact them about their own local area.
Speaking about this unique map, Oliver Reichardt, Head of the Compact Team, said:
“This map highlights how the Compact has helped transform many local areas for the better. There are difficult spending decisions being made across the country, and with more to come in the future, we are calling on all local areas to follow the example set by these top-performing partnerships, which will ensure that our communities can survive in the best possible shape.”
Paul Rideout, Voluntary Sector Policy Manager at East Sussex County Council said "Our Compact implementation has opened up so many opportunities for groups. Just three examples are: helping to shape the culture of town life, promoting choice for service users through redesigning the commissioning process together, and boosting the number of young volunteers."
Compact Voice asks parliamentary candidates to pledge support for the voluntary sector
Compact Voice has contacted every prospective parliamentary candidate in England, asking them to pledge their support for the voluntary sector in their constituency, and to outline how they’ll work with the sector if elected.
With the threat of cuts to services, the continuing impact of the economic downturn, and an increasing shift toward decisions being made at local level, elected candidates must be able to tackle these issues. Recognising and engaging with the work of the sector is a fundamental way they can better serve the interests of their constituents.
Some candidates have already responded with their views on the sector, and you can see them on a new website at http://election.compactvoice.org.uk. Search according to your constituency to see the views of candidates seeking your vote. Where no response has yet been received, we’re calling on you to help gather them in the lead-up to the election. Compact Voice has put together an easy way to do this on its website: www.compactvoice.org.uk.
Voice4Change England writes a blog for Commission for the Compact's website
Voice4Change England's BME Compact Officer has written an article entitled "Restoring Faith in the Compact: Is it too late for the BME Sector?".
The article explores how the BME third sector can take the refreshed national Compact forward in light of its changes and the loss of the BME Code of Practice.
To read the article please visit the Commission for the Compact website.
Compact Regional Events programme announced
Compact Voice has announced a series of Compact implementation events, to be held around the country through spring and summer 2010.
These events, which will bring representatives from regional and local voluntary sector groups, public bodies and Local Compact implementation groups, will help Compact partners to strengthen their own Compact working in light of the recent refresh of the national Compact. The sessions will be interactive, focussed on getting results for all partners, and will be held in a central location within all nine English regions.
Confirmed dates and locations:
- Birmingham: 19th May BVSC
- London: 25th May Resource Centre, Holloway Road
- Leeds: 2nd June Carriageworks Theatre
- Manchester: 15th June GMCVO
Event details still to be confirmed: Guildford, Cambridge, Newcastle, Bristol, Leicester.
To find out more about the events visit the Compact Voice website.
Westminster Local Authority 'is in breach of the Compact'
A local authority has been accused of breaching the Compact and of supporting moves to downgrade the role of charities in local decision-making. Voluntary Action Westminster reported Westminster City Council to the NCVO's compact advocacy programme for reducing its 2010/11 budget by almost 50 per cent without, it claims, adequate consultation or notice. The council has also been criticised for voting, along with other statutory agencies, to remove the right of charities to vote on the board of Westminster City Partnership, the local strategic partnership.
To see the full story visit the Third Sector website.
To see Compact Voice’s response visit the Compact Voice website.
Refreshed Compact
On 16th December 2009, the refreshed national Compact was launched. In comparison to the original Compact, launched in 1998, the refreshed Compact is a much shorter and focused document and designed to improve the way in which Government and the third sector work together to ultimately benefit communities and individuals.
You can download a copy of the Compact at the links below:
The Compact (PDF 364KB)
Introduction (PDF 282KB)
To learn more about the refreshed Compact please feel free to download The Compact Refresh: FAQs
Make the Compact avaliable on your websites
Voice4Change England also requests that you make the Compact available online to your networks, members and beneficiaries. You can do this by following the simple step by step instructions below:
STEP 1 Right click on the individual links:
1. The Compact
2. Introduction
STEP 2 Click on ‘Copy’
STEP 3 Paste the link into the relevant webpage on your website editing system.
STEP 4 Add the following blurb (optional):
The refreshed national Compact was launched on 16th December 2009. The Compact is an agreement between Government and the third sector to improve the way in which Government and the third sector work together effectively and harmoniously to benefit communities and individuals. To find out more about the refreshed national Compact and how it can help your organisation and its beneficiaries please visit the Voice4Change England website or contact Ravi Chauhan, BME Compact Officer at Voice4Change England.
Compact Week 2009
During the Compact Week (2-8 Nov ‘09) Voice4Change England investigated Compact refresh processes at a local and regional level. We spoke with Dean T Huggins from Sunderland and Rupert Daniel in the South West region to explore issues facing the BME third sector in relation to the Compact and its refresh.
Read the full transcripts of the interviews.
