About Us

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

The key organisations associated with the Compact forward are:

• Compact Voice
• Compact Advocacy
• Commission for the Compact
• Office for Civil Society
• 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.

Refreshed Compact

A refreshed national Compact is now published. As well as retaining all the key points of the original, this agreement takes into account recent developments in law, policy and practice. It is divided into three key areas covering ‘involvement in policy development’, ‘allocating resources’ and ‘advancing equality’.

The Compact
An introduction to the Compact

The refreshed Compact replaces the 1998 Compact agreement and five codes of practice. It is accompanied by a 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.

Hard copies of the Compact will be available in the New Year and can be ordered from the Commission for the Compact on 0121 237 5905 or ordered online.

The Compact applies 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