About Compact

Working together through the Compact – government, local public bodies and the voluntary and community sector in England are improving their relationship for mutual advantage and community gain.

The Compact includes Codes of Good Practice - on black and minority ethnic groups, community groups, consultation and policy appraisal, funding and procurement and volunteering. These cover rights and responsibilities which government, local public bodies and the voluntary and community sector should reflect in their relationships to make them work.

The Compact and Codes of Good Practice can be downloaded from Publications. 

Local Compacts are agreements between local voluntary and community sectors, councils and other local public bodies. 
Three main Compact Partners are involved in oversight of the Compact.
Key Compact Principles 
  • Voluntary action is an essential component of a democratic society. 
  • An independent and diverse voluntary and community sector is fundamental to the well-being of society. 
  • In the development and delivery of public policy and services, the Government and the voluntary and community sector have distinct but complementary roles. 
  • There is added value in working in partnership towards common aims and objectives. Meaningful consultation builds relationships, improves policy development and enhances the design and delivery of services and programmes. 
  • The Government and the VCS have different forms of accountability and are answerable to a different range of stakeholders, but common to both is the need for integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. 
  • VCS organisations are entitled to campaign within the law in order to advance their aims. 
  • The Government plays a significant role, among other things, as a funder of some VCS organisations. Funding can be an important element of the relationship between the Government and the VCS. 
  • Both Government and VCS acknowledge the importance of promoting equality of opportunity for all people regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation or religion and or belief.
You may find a summary of the Compact and each code useful, these can be found in our publications section.