Compact 'complements third sector quality standards'

25 Jun 2009

A new report launched today, Mapping third sector quality sector standards and the Compact, has found the Compact to be complementary to third sector quality standards.

Quality standards tend to be assessment tools that help organisations look at what they do, identify areas where they are doing well and not so well, and decide where improvements need to be made. Many third sector organisations choose to adopt quality standards to help them run their organisations effectively and efficiently.

The research, which was carried out by Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) on behalf of the Commission for the Compact, looked at eight quality standards and how they relate to the Compact.

The eight quality standards which were selected to be mapped against the Compact included: ACRE Good Practice Quality Standard, Hallmarks of an Effective Charity, investing in Volunteers Standard, Investors in People Standard, NAVCA Quality Award, PQASSO, Quality First and VISIBLE.

The main findings from the report show:

• A high level of similarity between Compact principles and quality standards.
• A similarity between the Compact and the quality standards across partnerships, volunteering, fundraising and external funding, and strategic leadership and management.
• That various factors were found to influence the relationship between the Compact and the quality standards including language and structure.

Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner of the Compact, said:

“The Compact has always been a useful tool for helping charities to improve the quality of their organisations. This research shows that the Compact complements many of the quality standards in use by third sector organisations. We hope this makes it easier for charities to see that the Compact isn't something extra they have to do, but it complements what many of them are already doing.”

For more information or to download a copy of the report, please visit:

http://www.thecompact.org.uk/

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.
• 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

Mapping Third Sector Report
Mapping Third Sector Report SUMMARY LEAFLET
Press Release - Compact 'complements third sector quality standards'

For media enquiries, please contact:

Jay Rana, Communications Assistant
Commission for the Compact
Tel: 0121 237 5907
Email: jay.rana@thecompact.org.uk