The Compact

What is it?

The Compact outlines the relationship between the public sector and the voluntary and community sector, allowing them to work together more

effectively to strengthen communities and improve

people’s lives.

What does it look like?

Compact principles

5 shared principles:

• Respect

• Honesty

• Independence

• Citizen empowerment

• Volunteering

Compact commitments

3 commitments to put the sharedprinciples into practice:

• Advancing equality and diversity

• Involvement in policy development

• Allocating resources

Advancing equality and diversity

• Recognition of the vital role that the voluntary and community sector plays in helping to create a more equal and fair society

• Sets out commitments that will help both sectors work together to achieve their equality goals and promote social and community cohesion

Involvement in policy development

How to involve and consult with the voluntary and community sector

• Helping the public sector develop policies that meet the needs of local people and communities

• When to involve• How to involve• Effective involvement

Allocating resources

Commitments relating to grants and contracts on a range of issues:

• Planning and designing of services• Application and bidding processes• Making decisions • Agreeing delivery, monitoring and

payment terms• How a financial relationship should be

ended

Implementing the Compact

Signatories to the compact should:

• Incorporate the principles of the Compact into their policies

• Incorporate the undertakings given in the Compact into their operational practices and procedures

• Widely publicise and make members, employees, volunteers and partners aware of the terms and spirit of the Compact and their commitment to it

Further InformationThe Compact Development Group oversees the operation of the Compact and produces a Joint

Compact Action Plan

For more information and copies of the Compact go to:

www.bedsandlutoncompact.org.uk

Or email the Compact secretariat:

compact@yourcvs.org