DfES originally set a 3 January deadline for grant applications, providing very limited time to complete those applications, consult stakeholders and procure trustee consent. This was in violation of the Compact’s funding code which states that organisations should have enough time to respond to grants and that notification of funding decisions needs to be timely.

Despite the extension, Saskia Daggett, manager of the Compact Advocacy Programme has concerns about future Compact compliance from DfES, saying: “…we are concerned that [minister for children and families, Parmjit Dhanda MP] stated that, in those areas where the DfES is yet to be fully Compact compliant, this will be addressed in future grant rounds. This isn’t good enough. The Compact isn’t optional and we are therefore seeking assurances from the DfES that this situation will not arise again.”