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Related content

• Background on the third sector
• The third sector (including the voluntary and community sector and social enterprises)

The national and local compacts

The Compact on relations between the Government and the voluntary and community sector in England, published in 1998, provides a framework for partnership working between Government and the voluntary and community sector. It was inspired by the Deakin Commission report on the future of the voluntary sector, which recommended that future partnerships between Government and the sector should be on the basis of agreed basic principles.

The compact's key principles, drawn up after extensive consultation, are:

• a healthy voluntary and community sector is part of a democratic society
• working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector can result in better policy and services and better outcomes for the community
• partnership requires strong relationships (e.g. integrity and openness)
• Government can play a role as funder of the voluntary and community sector
• the independence of the voluntary and community sector should be respected.

Under the terms of the compact, both the Government and the voluntary sector undertake to work together to improve outcomes for the community. In addition, the Government undertakes to:

• promote the compact across Government
• consult early enough to make a difference
• recognise the cost of doing business when funding public service delivery.

The voluntary and community sector undertakes to:

• promote the compact across the sector
• operate through open and accountable organisations
• involve all stakeholders and embrace diversity
• contribute constructively to all public policy.

A refreshed and revised national compact will be launched in November 2009.

Local compacts

Local compacts aim to make this national agreement a reality at local level by strengthening working relationships between voluntary and community sector organisations and a range of local public bodies.

These compacts, along with codes of practice setting out the detail of particular aspects of the relationship (funding, consultation and policy appraisal, black and minority ethnic (BME) voluntary and community organisations, volunteering, community groups), set out principles and commitments for working together.

Click to go to the Compact website.

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Last updated on 23/06/2009