how to establish a compact or partnership agreement compact voice july 2015

How to establish a Compact or partnership agreement

Compact VoiceJuly 2015

What is the Compact?• A voluntary agreement aiming to

foster strong, effective partnerships between public bodies and the voluntary and community sector (VCS)

• Every government department is signed up to the Compact

• Has cross party support

• Applies to England

About local Compacts• Reinterpret the principles of the

national Compact to reflect local circumstances

• There are around 165 local Compacts across England

• Can be established at borough, district or county level

What is included in local Compacts?Issues covered by local Compacts include:

• Funding arrangements

• Policy and service development

• Advancing equality

• VCS independence

• Volunteering practice

• Improving cross-sector relationshipsPhoto courtesy of Kevin Dooley via www.flickr.com

Creating a local Compact: What to consider• Engage your local partners

• Read the national Compact

• Include practical examples

• Style is important, but not as important as substance

• Create supporting documents

• Find out what other areas have done

Drafting your local Compact• One person should take the lead on

writing the draft

• Get your introduction attributed to a senior local figure

• Use a tag-line to help you promote your Compact

• Include a summary and a glossary of terms

Photo courtesy of Stan Wiechers via www.flickr.com

Consulting on the draft• Consult as widely as possible

• Hold events to gain feedback

• Recruit “Compact Champions” to raise awareness in their own organisations

• Show how you have taken on board responses

Photo courtesy of Highways England via www.flickr.com

Who to involve• The local authority and the local VCS

are the two key partners, but other local partners could include:

• Police authority• Police and Crime Commissioner• Fire authority• Housing association• Job Centre Plus• Clinical Commissioning Group• Chamber of Commerce• Healthwatch• Health and Wellbeing board• Local Enterprise Partnerships

Local Compact signatories• In some areas signatories are

limited to representatives signing on behalf of a wider group, while in others areas, individual organisations sign up

• Signing up to a local Compact often involves including the names of the signatories in the local Compact, but some areas have an online list of signatories that can be easily amended

Establishing a steering group• Should include representatives

from both sectors

• Guide the process of creating a local Compact

• Help embed the Compact in local partnerships

• Can mediate in local dispute resolution

Photo courtesy of Mark Morgan via www.flickr.com

Case study: Lewisham local Compact• Consultation included 100 in-depth

interviews with community groups and council officers

• The council funded a Compact Officer to work part time

• Compact steering group included a nominated person from each council directorate

About Compact Voice• Represent the VCS on the Compact

• Co-signatories of the national Compact

• Work to support partnerships across sectors both locally and nationally

• Support use of the Compact through influencing, sharing positive examples of partnership working in practice, and providing expertise

Further InformationThe national Compact: www.compactvoice.org.uk/sites/default/files/the_compact.pdf

Find your local Compact: www.compactvoice.org.uk/compacts-map

Partnership working toolkit: www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/briefings-and-guidance/partnership-working-toolkit-voluntary-sector

Email Compact Voice for advice and support: compact@compactvoice.org.uk or visit the website: www.compactvoice.org.uk

Photo courtesy of Mark Morgan via www.flickr.com