Compact advocacy case studies

These case studies will give you an idea of the problems other organisations are experiencing, the type of support we can offer and some of the possible outcomes:

• Ensuring fair funding - a local CAB and the local council
• Joined-Up Holidays - managing an "in principle" funding agreement
• Challenging a county council funding decision
• Premises and the Compact
• Making a case for consultation
• Delivering payments
• Sustain - Receiving full cost recovery
• Praxis - Challenging unfair withdrawal of funding
• Colchester Shopmobility - Challenging unfair withdrawal of funding
• National Appropriate Adult Network - Securing independence

A local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) had been funded for a number of years by its local council to provide advice to individuals and groups. Funding for three years was agreed in principle in June 2011; however by September, although the CAB had started to deliver the advice services, they had not received payment from the council. This case study examines negotiations between the CAB and the council to come to an agreement.

• Ensuring fair funding - a local CAB and the local council (PDF, 31 Kb) for the full story.

Joined-Up Holidays had an “in principle” agreement with a Regional Development Agency for a funding application to support disabled children and their families. This document looks at problems that occurred when the eligibility criteria for the funding changed and outlines the steps taken to resolve the situation.

• Joined-Up Holidays - managing an "in principle" funding agreement (PDF, 29 Kb).

This case study explains how the Cumbria Travellers Programme sought support from Compact Advocacy to challenge how a county council funding decision was taken.

• Cumbria Travellers Programme - challenging a county council funding decision (PDF, 38 Kb).

 This paper looks at an area of great significance for many organisations – accommodation and premises – and highlights some of the important legal and Compact principles which every organisation who may be in council premises should be aware of.

• Premises and the Compact (PDF, 36 Kb).

How Compact Advocacy helped a London-based community and voluntary service (CVS) infrastructure organisation challenge a council’s lack of sector consultation on a joint commissioning framework.

• Making a case for consultation (PDF, 88 Kb). 

 A group of organisations funded by the Migration Impact Fund contacted the Compact Advocacy Programme about delayed payments.

• Delivering payments (PDF, 45 Kb).

Sustain had a funding arrangement with the London Development Agency (LDA) to deliver a project in London. The LDA withdrew funding for the project without Sustain receiving reimbursement for costs they had legitimately incurred.

• Sustain - Receiving full cost recovery (PDF, 28 Kb).

The Praxis case demonstrates successfully challenging an unfair withdrawal of funding from a national government agency. Although clear Compact principles were breached the government agency believed they were unable to alter their decision as the money had come from a European Structural Fund.

• Praxis - Challenging unfair withdrawal of funding (PDF, 21 Kb). 

This scheme, run by Colchester Community Voluntary Services had its funding cut with the reason given that resources were being shifted to other priorities within the voluntary sector.

• Colchester Shopmobility - Challenging unfair withdrawal of funding (PDF, 22 Kb). 

National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) has received a grant from the Home Office for a number of years. It advertised for and recruited a new member of staff, funded out of its unrestricted reserves, which was completely separate from the grant that it received.

• National Appropriate Adult Network - Securing independence (PDF, 22 Kb). 

These are just some examples where the Compact Advocacy Programme has successfully resolved disputes between a civil society organisation and a public body. Read past cases for more examples of how Compact Advocacy has helped organisations with Compact-related issues.

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