Compacts
A Compact is a partnership agreement between voluntary and community organisations and the statutory agencies they work with. It sets out a framework for relations and identifies principles to adopt when working together.
There is a national Compact between Central Government and the voluntary and community sector, which was agreed in 1998. During negotiations, particular areas were identified as being of mutual concern and codes of practice were developed around them. These address:
- Funding
- Consultation and Policy Appraisal
- Black and Minority Ethnic Groups
- Volunteering & Community Action
- Community Groups
Many local areas have developed Compacts to meet their local needs as it is at the local level that most voluntary organisations and community groups have a relationship with the public sector.
In Leicestershire and Rutland, each of the CVS Chief Officers is responsible for formulating each district's Compact document.
In July 2005, the voluntary and community sector in Leicestershire became the first in the country to sign a compact with its local Learning & Skills Council, the Leicester Shire Compact on Learning & Skills.