About Us

The Compact is all about better partnership working and creating better outcomes for individuals and local communities.

The key partners who take the Compact forward are:

• Compact Voice
• Compact Advocacy
• Commission for the Compact
• Office of the Third Sector 
• Local Government Association (LGA)

Established in 1998, the Compact is an agreement between Government and the voluntary and community sector in England. It recognises shared values, principles and commitments and sets out guidelines for how both parties should work together.

Although the Compact is not legally binding and is built on trust and mutual goodwill, its authority is derived from its endorsement by government and by the voluntary and community sector itself through its consultation process.

Five Codes of Practice underpin the Compact. They cover:

• Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Voluntary and Community Organisations
• Community Groups
• Consultation and Policy Appraisal
• Funding and Procurement
• Volunteering

The Compact and its Codes apply to:

• Central Government Departments, including Government Offices for the Regions
• Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies, which have a relationship with the voluntary and community sector
• A range of organisations in the voluntary and community sector