National Compact Launched
On 16 December 2009, the refreshed national Compact document was launched. Developed following months of consultation, the new Compact is leaner, more focussed and reflects the changing operating environment for the partnership between government and the voluntary sector.
Compact Voice has collated information for the voluntary sector regarding the refreshed Compact, as well as some reactions from prominent organisations to the news.
The Compact is the longstanding agreement that sets out shared commitments and guidelines for effective partnership working between government and the third sector in England. The original Compact was agreed in November 1998 and this new version has developed following extensive debate and consultation.
The document highlights the shared principles which Compact partners should follow when engaging in partnership working, and records all the Compact commitments. These commitments cover three key areas:
- Involvement in policy development
- Allocating resources
- Advancing equality
The Compact has been agreed by representatives of government and the voluntary sector, with Compact Voice and the Office of the Third Sector confirming the policy and the ‘commitments’ content. It was signed by Simon Blake, Chair of Compact Voice, on behalf of the third sector and the Rt. Hon Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, on behalf of government.
The agreement is accompanied by a smaller publication entitled ‘An introduction to the Compact’. This contains general information about the Compact, explaining who it applies to, how to implement the Compact and resolve differences.
Find out more
Read the full press release from the Compact partnership (Compact Voice, the Commission for the Compact, and the Office of the Third Sector): Refreshed Compact available – press release
Find out more about the voluntary sector’s reaction to the new Compact, and download the Compact and Introduction documents.
Published: 16 December 2009
