What is the Compact?

  The Compact 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 is made up of five codes of good practice.

The codes clearly outline principles and undertakings of both government and the voluntary and community sector.

The five Compact Codes of Good Practice are:

• Funding and Procurement 
• Consultation and Policy Appraisal 
• Black and Minority Ethnic Groups 
• Volunteering
• Community Groups  

The Compact Codes

To download the Codes click on the images on the right. For summary documents of the Compact code undertakings by both government and the voluntary and community sector:

• Summary of Compact code undertakings by Government Download (PDF 324KB - 5 pages) 
• Summary of Compact code undertakings by the Voluntary and Community sector Download (PDF 361KB -  6 pages)

Local and Regional Compacts

Local and regional Compacts have been written to improve partnership working locally between the sector, councils and other local public bodies. 

Almost all of local authorities now have a Compact with their local voluntary and community sector.

For those areas, which have not yet developed local codes of good practice, the national documents still apply and can be used together with the local Compact.

For more information on the Compact, local Compacts and the Codes of good practice:

• the Compact website at www.thecompact.org.uk 
• find out more about the Compact Advocacy Programme and how it can help you.

The Compact in law

As the debate on this issue continues to surface in the media, organisations may want to learn more about the large cross-over which already exists between Compact commitments and public law.

The Compact Advocacy Programme works closely with the Public Law Project and NAVCA to ensure these links are made and to support voluntary organisations in challenging poor practice in the most effective way.

Empowering the voluntary sector (Public Law Project website): Information on the training and advice available.