What is the Compact?
The Compact is the agreement between the government and the voluntary and community sector (independent voluntary organisations, charities, community groups, etc.) which outlines a way of working that improves their relationship for mutual advantage. The national Compact translates into locally implemented versions of the Compact applicable to particular areas.
In North East Lincolnshire we have a local Compact which has been in place for many years, has been endorsed by a large number of public and community bodies across the borough, and for a long time has been supported and championed by VANEL.
The North East Lincolnshire Compact is now a single document which was written in 2010 and endorsed at the time by the Compact Steering Group. At the simplest level this Compact can be used by groups and organisations wishing to understand, endorse, sign-up to or use the Compact in dealings between the public and Voluntary Sector.
A new Compact document – Code of Conduct for Meetings – was also introduced back in 2010 and has been used by a number of groups (including the North East Lincolnshire LINk). Again, this can be easily used and applied by local groups.
The other 6 local Compact Codes still exist and are still relevant if groups prefer to use these. None of these have been updated since early 2010, but the wording is still useful in helping working relationships.
Download these Codes and other documents here.
Support
Since 2011 there has been no body or individual funded or resourced to support, promote or develop the local North East Lincolnshire Compact. Previous initiatives such as the Compact Steering Group, Compact Champions, the Compact newsletter and the Public Law training initiative are no longer in place.
However, VANEL continues to support, endorse and champion the local Compact however it can. We provide resources related to the Compact on this website, provide a Compact blog with occasional useful news, and will do our best to answer questions related to our local Compact. Email compact@vanel.org.uk or contact Karl Elliott at VANEL for support.
Please download the various Compact documents and use them with your groups and organisations.
In 2012, the Volunteer Centre and VANEL introduced Level 2 of the Supporting Volunteers Award. This includes a commitment from an SVA organisation to the Compact. So the behaviours and attitudes inherent in the Compact remain valid and relevant in the work that the VolCom sector carries out.
Useful links
Information about the national Compact
The single, national Compact document
Note that the old North East Lincolnshire Compact website at www.vanel.org.uk/compact is no longer active.