Herefordshire Local Compact
What is the Compact and what
should it do for you?
National Compact
Established in 1998, the Compact is an agreement between Government and the voluntary and community sector (or third sector) in England. It recognises shared values, principles and commitments and sets out guidelines for how both parties should work together.
National Codes of Good Practice
Funding
- Ensuring well-managed, accountable organisations with good governance
- Acting lawfully (and for charities, following the Charity Commission’s guidance)
Consultation
- Encouraging sector participation in government consultations
- Showing who your response represents
Community Groups
- Ensuring communities can identify their own needs and run projects
- Simplifying funding to boost access (including for faith groups)
- Developing race equality strategies jointly with the Government
- Being accountable to local communities
- A named responsible manager and trustee as a champion for volunteering
- A fair deal for volunteers including their treatment, training and support
Reports
There are several national reports of interest including:
Commissioning Guidance
This guidance is for commissioners in national and local public sector bodies. It is designed to help commissioners. It identifies relevant Compact principles and demonstrates where and how they can be applied to commissioning. It also highlights those Compact principles relevant for third sector organisations involved in commissioning.
Dancing to our own tune
An analysis of national voluntary and community organisations’ experience of the Compact and independence
A discussion paper looking at the potential impact of the recession on the relationship between government and the third sector.
Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner for the Compact, said:
“Effective partnership working becomes even more significant in difficult times. It is important to consider the implications the recession may have on public and third sector relationships. Although we are in the process of refreshing the Compact, we must not lose sight of the here and now. The principles of the Compact remain relevant in a recession, if not even more so than in a better economic climate.”
Visit http://www.thecompact.org.uk/
Local Compact
Local Compacts have the same aims as the national Compact, achieved through agreements between the third sector, local authorities and other local public bodies.
There is a Herefordshire Compact and three Codes of Practice:
Funding and Procurement drafted by The Alliance. A tripartite review of this Code was completed in May 2009
Informing, Consulting and Partnership drafted by The Alliance.
Looking Forward
The Alliance proposes that a new streamlined Herefordshire Compact document is drafted incorporating all Codes with the Compact.
We also propose that there be a dedicated Compact worker based in the Herefordshire Partnership Team who would coordinate Compact Groups, e.g. the Compact Code Implementation Group (currently coordinated by The Alliance), and any redrafts of the local Compact and Codes.