Refresh time for the Compact

25 Mar 2009

A letter asking the Commission for the Compact to lead a process to redraft the Compact documents for public consultation later in 2009 has been received by Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner for the Compact.

The letter was sent by Kevin Brennan MP, Minister for the Third Sector, and Simon Blake, Chair of Compact Voice, the independent body which represents the voluntary and community sector on taking forward the Compact. It asks the Commission to take “what is best from the existing documents rather than start from scratch, and ensure that the new version takes into account recent developments in law, policy and practice.”

In addition, it asks that the new Compact “takes account of the implications for Local Compacts, and the new local performance framework, Local Strategic Partnerships, Local Area Agreements and the Comprehensive Area Assessment.”

Sir Bert Massie, Commissioner for the Compact, said:

“Activity is now underway on producing a refreshed and revised national Compact to be launched later this year during Compact Week in November 2009. Meetings of an advisory panel to discuss the refresh of the Compact will take place in April, May and September 2009, with a formal three-month consultation during June, July and August 2009.

“During the refresh process, it’s important that the current Compact does not take second place. The Compact still has a lot to commend it and we need to ensure that the refreshed product retains all the key points which have contributed to its success over the last 10 years.”

The formal request by the Minister for the Third Sector and Compact Voice follows on from last year’s extensive discussion on the future of the Compact and agreement at the Compact Annual Meeting in December. A Joint Compact Action Plan for 2009-10, due to be published on the Compact website in April 2009, will include consultation activity concerning the refresh process as well as specific task indicators and measures, outlining the work to be undertaken over the next 12 months.

Notes for Editors

• The Compact was established in England in November 1998 and was inspired by the Deakin Commission report on the Future of the Voluntary Sector. It is an agreement that provides an overall framework for promoting effective partnership working between the Government and the voluntary and community sector. It aims to address areas of poor performance and sets out a statement of intent to work in partnership supported by five codes of practice. These five codes cover funding and procurement, community groups, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups, volunteers and consultation.
  
• Established in April 2007, the Commission for the Compact is an independent body responsible for overseeing the Compact. It was set up to improve awareness of the Compact and its Codes of Good Practice, and to address the barriers to its adoption and implementation. The Commission works alongside the Office of the Third Sector, Compact Voice and the Local Government Association to achieve effective implementation of the Compact, and improve outcomes for both individuals and communities. It works with all stakeholders to take the Compact forward through increasing awareness, sharing good practice and carrying out research, looking at key themes that affect the relationship between statutory and voluntary sectors.

Ends

Useful Documents

Press Release - Refresh time for the Compact
Letter from Kevin Brennan MP to Sir Bert Massie CBE

For media enquiries, please contact:

Catherine Byerley, Communications Officer
Commission for the Compact
Tel: 0121 237 5905
Email: catherine.byerley@thecompact.org.uk 

Rebecca Morris, Head of Communications
Commission for the Compact
Tel: 0121 237 5913
Email: rebecca.morris@thecompact.org.uk