The Community Groups Code

This Code was published in July 2003 and it stresses the importance of working with and supporting the community sector to achieve better community involvement in local decision making.

Community Groups Code [PDF 247KB, 46 pages]

 Community Groups Summary [PDF 36KB, 2 pages]

The community sector is very diverse and people come from very different kinds of community. These groups are often missed out in the process of local policy and service development and delivery. The Code recognises that understanding the sector is crucial to understanding the processes and, through partnership working; it promotes a joined-up approach to involving the community sector and calls for community groups to be fully involved in developing Local Compacts.

Community groups help to build stronger relationships and networks in neighbourhoods. They run services, promote community development and represent community interests, as well as being a major source of volunteers. This Code outlines ways of ensuring that the skills and experience of community groups add value to policy and service development and delivery, particularly at a local level, and it recognises that there should be an open approach and involvement from funders and partners, rather than an approach based on assumptions.

Andy Forster, Head of Policy
Commission for the Compact
Tel: 0121 237 5916
Email: andy.forster@thecompact.org.uk