What is a Compact?

• A compact is a voluntary agreement between voluntary and community groups and statutory organisations which sets out a framework for how these organisations will work together.
• It sets out their shared values and principles, and promotes mutual trust and respect, collaboration and equal working relationships.
• A compact also recognises the distinct but complementary roles of the different sorts of organisations, and that by working together these two sectors can achieve more for the community.

Thus the aim of the compact is to
• encourage good working relationships and the development of partnership working
• Improve the standing of the voluntary sector

The national compact between the government and the voluntary sector nationally was published in 1998. Local authorities and other statutory organisations and voluntary and community groups have subsequently been encouraged to develop their own compacts locally.

The national compact between the government and the voluntary sector nationally was published in 1998. Local authorities and other statutory organisations and voluntary and community groups have subsequently been encouraged to develop their own compacts locally.

Following the Government’s national compact initiative, High Peak CVS have been playing a key role this year in developing a compact locally, working closely with High Peak Borough Council. Initially the development of a local compact was part of the High Peak Community Strategy. But rather than each district developing its own compact, the LSP partners felt that it would be better to align the local compact with the geographical area of the Local Strategic Partnership, which covers the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

In the High Peak, we started the process of developing a local compact by holding a Compact Day to explain what the compact is about and give local organisations the opportunity to say what they would like addressed in the compact. This was attended by 35 people representing over 25 organisations. A number of themed working group meetings focusing on funding, volunteering and communication and consultation followed. Ideas and information from these sessions were fed into a draft local compact, which was circulated for consultation and attracted many useful comments.

Subsequent to that document being circulated, it became apparent that some groups foresaw difficulties in having both a compact for the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales and a County compact. The reason for this is that some voluntary organisations work more closely with county council departments, in particular social services, whilst others work with more locally administered statutory agencies, and some with both: the concern of some organisations is that there could be confusion over which compact agreement they should be working to.

An LSP-wide working group therefore met at High Peak CVS in late March 2004 to discuss the best way forward in the High Peak and Dales. Its conclusion was to recommend signing up to the County compact. This is in place of a High Peak and Dales local compact agreement, and carries an addendum which gives it a local context.

This is by no means the end of High Peak CVS’s input to the local compact project. Establishing a compact agreement is only one step in a live and ongoing initiative to improve and develop good working relationships locally. We are already in the process of setting up a local compact implementation group. This group will steer the compact initiative locally, overseeing the development and progress of an action plan and a code of practice for the High Peak and Dales. It will report on progress to the LSP and thence to the County Compact annual review.

Signing up to the Compact

The Local Strategic Partnership has recommended signing up to this Compact rather than a High Peak and Dales local compact agreement. By signing up to this Compact you are signing up to an initiative to improve and develop the way in which statutory and voluntary organisations work together locally for the benefit of the local community. This is relevant to your group or organisation, whether you are involved in a longstanding partnership with a statutory organisation, or a small voluntary group that has never received a grant from the county or borough council.

High Peak CVS is supporting the County Compact and would encourage local voluntary and community groups such as yours to sign up to it, by the end of September if possible.

You can do so by completing and returning the signing-up form.

To comment, please email Esther Jones or call her on 01663 735 350.