2008 Winners

The winners of the 2008 Compact Awards were announced on Wednesday 5 November 2008 at the BAFTA ceremony in London hosted by Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner for the Compact.

Organised by the Commission for the Compact in partnership with Compact Voice and the Office of the Third Sector, the five award categories include Compact Champion of the Year, Local Compact of the Year, the Regional and National Excellence Awards, and a Commissioner's Award, given in recognition of exceptional achievement.

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

"The quality of entrants for this year's awards was extremely high and the judging panel was very impressed with the level of commitment to the Compact. All of our finalists demonstrate how the Compact can be a living document that influences action and encourages both sectors to work together to improve and enhance the services and support they offer to the public."

The awards ceremony forms part of Compact Week, which takes place from 1 to 8 November 2008. Through a week-long programme of events, media activity and engagement opportunities across England, this national awareness week aims to promote the Compact and engage national Government bodies, regional bodies, local authorities and other public sector partners who have Local and Regional Compacts.

The list of winners in full

Local Compact of the Year 2008

• Winner - Derby Compact

Finalists in this category who were awarded Compact Excellence Awards:

• Calderdale Compact
• East Sussex Compact
• Gloucestershire Compact Group
• Haringey Compact 'Working BETTER Together'
• Wolverhampton Compact

Other entries in this category who were awarded Highly Commended Certificates:

• Rotherham Partnership Compact
• Sunderland Compact
• Surrey Compact
• Compact for Devon
• Thanet Compact
• Community Development Company (DOC) and Hull City Council
• Compact between Newcastle-upon-Tyne's voluntary and community sector and Newcastle City Council

The Commissioner's Award

• Winner - Haringey Compact for its work on their Compact Proofing Toolkit

Compact Champion of the Year

• Winner - Laura Hack (Compact in Suffolk)

Finalists in this category who were awarded Compact Excellence Awards:

• Diana Billingham (Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust)
• Janice Rose (Northumberland Strategic Partnership)
• Andrew Wates (Surrey Compact)

Compact Award for Excellence at a Regional Level

• Winner - South West Regional Compact Partners

Compact Award for Excellence at a National Level

• Winner - Department of Health Third Sector Funding and Investment Review Project

Local Compact of the Year 2008

• Winner - Derby Compact

Derby Compact won the prestigious Local Compact of the Year Award for its work on strengthening the links between the Derby Compact and the Local Strategic Partnership, Derby City Partnership. This year, it has revised its Compact to include a new process for conflict resolution and developed a publicity plan to raise awareness of the Derby Compact and promote its work. It has established a strategic city-wide Volunteer Co-ordinators Forum to share best practice and address policy issues in relation to volunteering and to ensure that the Derby Code of Good Practice on Volunteering is implemented. In addition, it has developed a Joint Commissioning Framework for the voluntary and community sector in partnership between the City Council, Primary Care Trust and the third sector, which sets out detailed guidance for Derby City Council and Derby City Primary Care Trust on processes to be adopted to ensure effective third sector involvement in the planning, commissioning and delivery of health and social care services.

Finalists in this category who were awarded Compact Excellence Awards

• Calderdale Compact

Calderdale Compact forms an integral part of the Local Area Agreement (LAA) of Calderdale. Its steering group meets on a bi-monthly basis and each member also acts as a Compact Champion. Its Compact toolkit sets out Codes of Good Practice alongside 'checklists' to enable organisations to track their compliance with the Codes. This year, they have undertaken a review of their Compact and this autumn they conducted a review of their Funding Code with respect to integrating Commissioning and Procurement good practice. In addition, Calderdale Compact has successfully delivered a number of events and workshops in partnership, including a Children and Young People's Network workshop, Health Network training, a 2007 celebration event and information sessions at Voluntary Action Calderdale's Annual Funding Fair. They have formed task and finish groups for the 2008 annual celebration week, which will include a celebration event where they will launch a consultation of the review of its Funding Code of Practice teamed with seminars on Compact implementation and Champions.

• East Sussex Compact

During 2008, the East Sussex Compact Steering Group worked to ensure that both the public sector and third sector take an active role in working towards fully implementing and embedding the East Sussex Compact. Their steering group has undertaken a series of key activities including: agreeing a five year implementation strategy; agreeing an annual action plan; undertaking an annual review; developing and delivering an annual training event for both sectors; producing an 'Understanding the Compact' guide; updating their 'Snappy Guide to the Compact'; and producing a CD and audio cassette. In addition, local authorities in East Sussex have adopted the Sustainable Procurement Policy for South East England Councils.

• Gloucestershire Compact Group

In 2008, this group focused on raising the profile of the Compact and making it a living document. It has developed the role of Compact Ambassador to assist in raising awareness and promoting examples of good practice, which complements the role of Compact Champion, which focuses on supporting and encouraging implementation. It has also built on the success of the previous year's job shadowing exercise to promote understanding between to two sectors and a wider job shadowing exercise is underway this autumn 2008. In addition, the group has held a series of implementation workshops to show how the Compact can be used in day to day work. In January 2008, the Health Trusts held a joint workshop, which promoted not only working between the sectors, but also work between different health agencies. The Compact also played an essential role in the refreshment process of the Gloucestershire LAA and the voluntary and community sector was fully involved in all stages of the process from January to April 2008.

• Haringey Compact 'Working BETTER Together'

This year, the Haringey Compact Implementation Group (HCIG) undertook a broad range of activities to progress implementation. This included: the development of a communications strategy; getting the Compact included and referenced in key policy and partnership agreements; developing a DVD to promote and raise awareness of the Compact; referencing the Compact in Community Link Forum (CLF) governing documents; adoption of a Compact way of working in reference to Haringey Council's Grant Aid Standards, which aims to standardise the monitoring and implementation of grant giving across the Council; revising its positive dispute resolution process; revising Fire Brigade partnership contracts to a shorter, more friendly version; strengthening the role of Compact Champions, which included cross sector training, putting in place resources based on feedback to support the Compact Champion role such as a web forum; developing a user guide for all Compact partners, including promotional materials; implementing Haringey Council Compact Champions across all directorates and establishing an internal Champion's Group; developing a new Common Needs Assessment and Referral Form; and developing a Compact Proofing Toolkit.

• Wolverhampton Compact

This year, the Wolverhampton Compact commissioned an independent review of their Compact, and conducted a planning session with Compact Champions and members, followed by an event where outcomes were prioritised in an agreed action plan. One activity identified is the establishment of a 'Relationship Forum', to be held periodically. Also, they are keen to develop their advocacy for the sector and have piloted some work. Other activities included: holding a joint mediation training session, a session with Compact Champions to explore the idea of setting up a Champions' Network and an awareness event in Compact Week 2007, which included a play about using the Compact and a training session for Compact Champions (planned activity for this year's Compact Week includes job shadowing); completing their Funding Code of Practice; and producing a new Compact publicity materials pack, a website, an email bulletin bi-monthly, and a regular article in a local third sector magazine. This year, they have also successfully negotiated a Compact compliancy issue with the LSC, which led to the sector being reimbursed substantial resources and at the same time, negotiated the details of their funding code of practice.

Other entries in the Local Compact of the Year category who were awarded Highly Commended Certificates

• Rotherham Partnership Compact
• Sunderland Compact
• Surrey Compact
• Compact for Devon
• Thanet Compact
• Community Development Company (DOC) and Hull City Council
• Compact between Newcastle-upon-Tyne's voluntary and community sector and Newcastle City Council

Compact Champion of the Year 2008

• Winner - Laura Hack (Compact in Suffolk)

Laura is the Partnership Manager at Suffolk Association of Voluntary Organisations (SAVO). Laura won this award for her personal commitment and enthusiasm. She has acted as the catalyst bringing local organisations together to agree on their reviewed Compact, organising a steering group made up of representatives from country and local third sector groups, public and local authorities.

Finalists in this category who were awarded Compact Excellence Awards

• Diana Billingham (Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust)

Diana is the County Partnerships Manager at Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust. She is the chair of the Gloucestershire Compact Group and works across the health community to ensure their engagement with the Gloucestershire Compact and the voluntary sector structures in Gloucestershire.

• Janice Rose (Northumberland Strategic Partnership)

Janice is Acting Executive Director of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership. She has taken the lead in pulling together the two sectors and providing the leadership necessary to develop a Local Compact.

• Andrew Wates (Surrey Compact)

Andrew is the Chair of the Surrey Compact Working Group and a former Chairman of Wates Family Holdings, one of the UK's largest family-owned construction services and development companies. Through his consistent pressure, the Surrey Compact is where it is today.

Compact Award for Excellence at a Regional Level

• Winner - South West Regional Compact Partners

The South West Regional Compact was launched in September 2004 and was the first example of a Regional Compact. It meets bi-monthly and its shared set of values and principles aids the input made to the region's strategies and policies.

As well as drawing up the Compact, the group has agreed plans to promote, implement and review it and there are many examples of good practice encompassing review mechanisms, policy planning, campaigning and communications. Absolutely fundamental is their commitment to sharing Compact values and principles, and having a robust and open framework for discussing, promoting, and resolving and respecting differences. For the last two years, they have used their annual review report, to highlight how each of the partner organisations has been influenced by the Compact.

Compact Award for Excellence at a National Level

• Winner - Department of Health Third Sector Funding and Investment Review Project

This work was undertaken by the Department of Health to consider the entire Department's funding of the third sector, including its primary funding streams as well as contracts resulting from procurement, and grants across a range of the Department's programmes. The Department conducted the review guided by Compact principles for involving and consulting the sector and it provided organisations in the sector with the opportunity to participate in a wide-ranging debate with the Department about important issues regarding their future funding relationship, and influence the Department's approach to funding for the sector in future. Over 700 organisations participated in consultation workshops; 195 organisations submitted a response either online or through a paper-based questionnaire and 53 organisations submitted a written response outside the questionnaire format.

The outcome of the review and consultation process is the creation of a 'Third Sector Investment Programme' that replaces the previous Section 64 General Scheme of Grants for 2009-10. The two functions that have been implemented immediately are establishment of a 'Strategic Partner Programme' and the 'Innovation, Excellence and Service Development Fund'. The resulting strategic framework for investment will set the context for a more coherent approach to funding of the sector by the Department, stronger governance of their funding relationship and the opportunity to further mainstream the principles of the Compact and its Funding Code of Practice across the range of DH policy and delivery programmes. From 2010-11 the third sector investment programme will also include a new volunteering investment fund, that builds on the existing Opportunities for Volunteering scheme.

The Commissioner's Award

• Winner - Haringey Compact for its work on their Compact Proofing Toolkit

The Haringey Compact Implementation Group (HCIG) has developed a Compact Proofing Toolkit, an essential tool that will make a significant impact in the effective implementation and use of Haringey's Compact. This toolkit was based on Haringey Council's Equalities Impact Assessment model and was developed to be used across sectors in order to: assess Compact Compliance; support providers to develop and put in place Compact Compliant processes which add value; identify gaps in partnership working; and share learning and inform best practice in partnership working.

The toolkit is divided into two parts and has been designed to be applied to a range of processes and activities. Part 1 is a Compact impact assessment and Part 2 contains Compact proofing performance checklists, in order to assess the Compact specifically against principles contained within the Compact. The toolkit has been piloted by the Haringey Strategic Partnership (HSP) in its review of Area Based Grants (ABG) of approximately £22million. It is also being used to develop its new commissioning framework. It is a learning tool with the aim of making the Compact part of everyday business.

For more information about all the events and activities taking place during Compact Week, please visit: www.thecompact.org.uk/compactweek

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. It aims to address areas of poor performance and sets out a statement of intent to work in partnership supported by five codes of practice. These five codes cover funding and procurement, community groups, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups, volunteers and consultation.

• The Compact Awards are awarded every year to demonstrate the Compact in action and celebrate and recognise excellent partnership working. Previously known as the Compact Commendations for Excellence, since they were introduced in 2003 over 100 Commendations and Compact Excellence Awards have been awarded to recognise excellent partnership working.

• The Compact Awards is organised by the Commission for the Compact in partnership with Compact Voice and the Office of the Third Sector. This year's judging panel included representatives from all the key organisations associated with the Compact including the Commission for the Compact, Compact Voice, the Office of the Third Sector and the Local Government Association (LGA).

• The Compact Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday 5 November 2008 at 195 Piccadilly, London. Photographs from the ceremony are available from the communications team at the Commission for the Compact.

Ends

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Press Release: Compact Award Winners Announced