21/07/10

By Andrew Holt

The Commission for the Compact, the independent body responsible for overseeing the Compact, has published its second Annual Report for the period ending 31 March 2010.

The Annual Report and Accounts details the Commission’s developments during 2009/10 which embeds the Compact’s partnership working principles further into the policies and practices of public bodies and voluntary and community organisations.

In the last year the Commission for the Compact organised extensive debate and consultation in the process of refreshing the Compact, which was published in late 2009.

Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner for the Compact said: “During the last year we’ve made considerable gains at the Commission, in particular with the refresh of the Compact, which has been warmly welcomed.

"We have brought it up-to date to reflect its relevance today while building on the lessons of the last 10 years to set out a clear agenda for future partnership. It also reaffirms the independence of voluntary and community organisations and their right to campaign and comment on government policy.

“The report shows the range of work the Commission has undertaken during the last year to promote effective partnerships through the Compact that lead to benefits for individuals and communities.”

The report contains a review of the year highlighting key events and milestones.

These include:

• A letter from Kevin Brennan MP, then minister for the Third Sector, and Simon Blake, chair of Compact Voice, asks the Commission to lead a process to redraft the Compact documents for public consultation later in 2009.

• The Commission and Compact Voice held a series of six regional Compact Champions workshops to explore the role of Compact Champions.


• The Commission publishes a research report entitled Mapping third sector quality standards and the Compact, which examines eight quality standards and how they relate to the Compact.

• The Commission publishes its’ implementation guidance on the issue of independence, entitled Independence Matters. This includes five common dilemmas that face both the public sector and third sector and how these can be addressed by applying Compact principles.

• A consultation paper entitled Refreshing the Compact: a framework for partnership working is published by the Commission on behalf of the Compact partnership. This set in motion the start of the official 12-week consultation on the refresh of the national Compact.

• The Commission publishes interim findings for a forthcoming research report entitled The costs, barriers and benefits involving volunteers from under-represented groups. The report provides an initial analysis as well as observations and recommendations.

• Compact Week, a national awareness week to promote the Compact and engage people across both Government and the voluntary and community sector, takes place from 2 to 8 November 2009. Nearly 50 events take place across the country and Sir Bert and members of the Commission’s Non-Executive Board as well as staff members from the Commission visit and support activities.

• The winners of Compact Awards 2009, the annual awards recognising excellence in partnership working, are announced at a ceremony held at the Dali Universe in London.

• On behalf of the Compact partnership, the Commission publishes the refreshed national Compact as well as accompanying publication entitled An introduction to the Compact.

• The Commission publishes a research report entitled Compact application and the administration of European structural funding. This looks specifically at cases where there have been issues in Compact implementation.

• The Annual Meeting chaired by Dawn Butler MP, Cabinet Office Minister at the time, and Simon Blake, Chair of Compact Voice, to review the Compact took place on 1 February 2010 at London Zoo.

• The Commission launches the Compact Knowledge Bank, a new online resource containing a range of research papers and documents associated with the Compact.

Home     More News


Other stories you may find of interest:

David Cameron: Leadership for a better Britain
David Cameron put the Big Society at the heart of his keynote conference speech yesterday, stating: "My driving mission in politics is to build a Big Society, a stronger society." He said: "It starts with families. I want to make this the most family-friendly government the country has ever seen. More childcare. More health visitors. More relationship support. More help with parenting. And for the 120,000 families that are most troubled - and causing the most trouble - a commitment to turn their lives around by the end of this Parliament."

Budget 2011: Sector verdict is broadly positive
The sector has given its verdict on the budget, and there is much positive comment, but this is tempered by some disappointment and criticism. The Chancellor’s budget speech did herald some significant – and in some cases unexpected – changes to the reliefs available for charities and philanthropists. Key measures announced in the Budget include proposals to simplify Gift Aid, encourage wealthy people to give more to charity...

Dilnot Fairer Care Funding report: the sector verdict
The Commission on Funding of Care and Support has presented its findings to the Government in its report Fairer Care Funding, and the sector has generally welcomed the report, albeit with many qualifications. The independent commission, set up by the Government last July, was asked to recommend a fair and sustainable funding system for adult social care in England.