More Information
Confused by some of the terminology? read this glossary.
What is the Compact?
The Compact (PDF 364KB) is an agreement between the Government and the voluntary and community sector made in November 1998. It aims to improve the relationship between the two sectors for mutual advantage.
The Compact was refreshed in December 2009, and the previous document and its related codes (see below) were superseded.
The previous Compact, from which many existing Local Compacts were drawn, was made up of five codes of good practice. The codes outlined principles and undertakings of both government and the voluntary and community sector.
These five Compact Codes of Good Practice were:
- Funding and Procurement (PDF 254KB)
- Consultation and Policy Appraisal (PDF 210KB)
- Volunteering (PDF 269KB)
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Who are the different Compact bodies?
The main partner organisations involved in oversight of the Compact are:
- Compact Voice: exists to help the voluntary sector get the most out of the Compact. We offer practical help and guidance on how to get the Compact working for your organisation, and we give voice to the sector's views on the Compact to national government, local government and other stakeholders.
- Compact Advocacy: handles cases for voluntary organisations when they are having problems with government at a national and local level and also uses its casework to campaign for long-term change
- Office of the Third Sector: leads on Compact work across government
- Local Government Association: leads lobbying work on behalf of local councils
- Commission for the Compact: an independent body responsible for overseeing the Compact and its Codes of Good Practice.
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Is the Compact legally binding?
The Compact was agreed by the Government and was signed by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, but it is not on the statute books. There have been calls for the Compact to become law and the debate on this carries on. The failure to live up to Compact commitments has formed a part in judicial review cases but the Compact has not been the only basis for the challenge. A judge recently stated that the Compact is "more than a wish list". One suggestion that has gathered support recently is to give the Commission for the Compact some sort of statutory power.
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How was the Compact written?
Putting the relationship between the sector and the Government on paper was one of the key recommendations of the Deakin Report in 1996 and shortly afterwards the Compact Working Group was set up. This included representatives from leading voluntary and community sector umbrella bodies, representatives from community groups and organisations, volunteering organisations, Councils for Voluntary Service, The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Black and Minority Ethnic organisations. The group consulted over 25,000 organisations about what the Compact should include and the text was agreed in 1998.
A Reference Group was also set up, with members drawn from 65 voluntary organisations, to act as a sounding board to the activities of the Working Group before and during discussion with government. Almost all local authority areas have now developed a similar local Compact in partnership with the voluntary and community sector.
The national Compact and codes was 'refreshed' in late 2009 to bring the Compact up to date with changes since 1998. Find out more.
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Where can I go if I have a complaint about government breaching the Compact?
NCVO's Compact Advocacy Programme provides advice and support to voluntary organisations that are concerned about a government partner's practice. If you are the victim of maladministration by a public body you can raise this with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombundsman. The Public Law Project offers free support and legal advice for voluntary organisations in cases where a public body has breached public law.
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