http://www.savo.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=110

 
 
In a Nutshell									
ARE YOU familiar with The
Compact in Suffolk? The Compact is a set of guidelines and principles for
voluntary and community organisations and public agencies to adopt in order to
improve working relationships between the two sectors. 
The Compact guidelines
are designed to encourage each sector to recognise and respect the importance of
the other’s role. Voluntary and community organisations make a major
contribution to the development of society. They promote both equality and
diversity. They help to alleviate poverty, improve the quality of life, involve
the socially excluded and make an important direct economic contribution to the
County. The Compact should be integral to any policies, agreements, plans and
action undertaken between the voluntary and community sector and public bodies.

The Compact in Suffolk recognises that public sector agencies can play a
positive role in promoting and supporting the work of voluntary and community
organisations. When public sector agencies develop policies or programmes they
can have an impact on the work of voluntary and community groups. The Compact in
Suffolk will help to make that impact positive.
But what IS it?
In reality, it’s
an 8 page document, which sets out principles for both the VCS and the public
sector to adhere to, to ensure best practice when they work together. It is
underpinned by 5 Codes of Good Practice: Volunteering, Community Groups, BME and
Diversity, Consultation and Funding and Procurement. These Codes go into more
detail about each specific area, building on the main document.
The original
Suffolk Compact was developed and launched in 2002, but the Compact in Suffolk
has been refreshed over the last two years and both Voluntary and Community
Sector Agencies and Public Sector Agencies are, in 2007, being asked to sign up
to and re-commit to a Compact Way of Working.
Who has signed?
 
To date, we have
a commitment to signing the Compact from a wide range of public sector agencies,
such as Suffolk County Council, the PCT’s, the Learning and Skills Council,
JobCentrePlus, GO-East, district and borough councils, multi-agency partnerships
and the VCS. A full list is available on this website.
Why should you sign up?

The Compact in Suffolk can only work effectively if organisations commit to it.
It cannot rely on one person championing the Compact, but must become part of
any joint undertaking between the sectors. Complaints have been levied at the
Compact in the past, but we are finding that it can be used in an effective way,
coupled with the principles of Public Law to challenge decisions and actions of
both sectors. All public sector agencies are signed up to the National Compact
via the Governments commitment and, if the local Compact is not robust enough,
this can be cited in challenging non adherence to best practice. This is a
two-way process and VCS organisations can also be challenged on their actions
and behaviour.
Having a local Compact allows a dialogue to open between sectors,
and it is the process of developing the Compact in Suffolk, which has led to
better communication and more understanding between the sectors. As the Compact
sets out shared best practice, developed by both sectors, if organisations do
not commit to working towards these, how can the relationship between the public
sector and VCS move forward?			
 
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