Previous stories

Catch up on some prior Compact stories here.

East Sussex are making their Compact real (Oct 2009)

East Sussex developed a creative programme to implement their Compact. Having won the Compact Innovation and Impact Award in 2007, for their Matrix Game to build dispute solving skills, and having been selected last year as a What Makes a Successful Local Compact study area, the county has not lost any momentum in rolling out their Compact.

Typical of their constant awareness-building, is that County Council members receive regular briefings on their Compact. Opinions as to how well the Compact actually works, are fed into an annual review. 

Right now, small groups are being trained on their Compact from one locality to the next until the whole county is covered. One recent participant said “I never really got it until today!”, and now is an ardent advocate. A project is underway to get parish councils involved in the East Sussex Compact. This process, and what it achieves, should be a good example to others trying to get their Compact to work at grass roots level. In rural areas, Compact implementation groups might even consider recruiting village Compact Champions.

Surrey disputes procedure leads the field (Oct 2009)

Surrey is making great strides in the relations between local partners, and have recently revised their disputes procedure just a couple of years after getting a Compact award for their first one.

Based on all partners being positive about disputes, and offering a practical process (such as using local mediation services), the Surrey disputes procedure is definitely a strong example for other areas to emulate.

Surrey continue to be well placed to achieve Compact outcomes for partners, at both county and district level as:

• They have amongst the largest number of Compact Champions anywhere in the country; who are trained and supported online, and also network over the web
• Surrey has enjoyed significant positive change in the local operating environment for the voluntary sector, and in the relationships with public bodies, since the introduction of a Local Compact; a vital indicator for assessing its impact
• Surrey invest in their Compact, and their strong progress is undoubtedly due in large part to having a Compact Officer.

Haringey keep their lines of communication open (Oct 2009)

Haringey have brought out another in their Compact News series. While they have won a number of Compact awards in previous years, they still realise there is a lot more work to do, both in pursuing new and exciting initiatives as well as strengthening the basic foundations.

If partners aren't communicating what's happening, other organisations may start disconnecting from the Compact, and voluntary bodies may find themselves back at the start again. Haringey is one area which is managing to avoid this.

Why do some areas score many Compact wins while others struggle? Top performers are ambitious and plan imaginatively. But if your Compact achievements are kept secret, then they can’t help others be ambitious about what their Compact can achieve.

Read Haringey Compact News 2009 (issue 8).

Sutton top the wins list (Oct 2009)

Sutton is keeping a list of its top Compact wins, and is a leading area keeping an up to date list of their Compact wins. It's crucial that your Compact implementation group promotes Compact wins to all partner organisations and the LSP. Read the Sutton Compact Wins List 2009.

Start a thread on our Compact Voice Network forum if your area has a wins list, or share your experience of what makes a disputes process work.

 

Tell us how you use the Compact

Essential Reading

Holding an Event?