It is vital that the Voluntary and Community Sector have a voice in order that it can influence they way in which services in Sandwell are developed and delivered.
The Compact
One of the ways to ensure that this engagement is conducted in a meaningful and productive way is by following the principles that are contained in Sandwell Compact.
The Compact is an agreement between Public Sector agencies and Voluntary and Community Sector agencies. The Compact recognises and sets out a series of shared values, principles and commitments that if followed, should help to improve and maintain a positive relationship between the two sectors. A National Compact was established in 1998 and following the change of Government, was updated in 2010. A copy of the National Compact can be accessed here.
In response to the National Compact, there was an expectation that local Compacts be developed to help relationships at a grass roots level. Sandwell has developed a local Compact setting out principles governing the relationship between the statutory sector and Voluntary and Community Sector. Please view below a list of the key documents that have been developed in Sandwell
- Sandwell Compact (main document)
- Sandwell Compact (glossary of terms)
- Funding Code of Practice
- Governance Code of Practice
- Communication & Consultation Code of Practice
- Volunteering Code of Practice
If you feel that your organisation is able to commit to partnership working following the principles contained in these documents, then we would encourage you to sign up to working in a Compact way. You can do this by completing and returning the Statement of Intent document.
What To Do When Communication Breaks Down
Increasingly, local public bodies are being encouraged and compelled to engage with the Voluntary and Community Sector in meaningful ways, including through the delivery of public services. Many organisations find it difficult to balance the need to work with public bodies with the need to sometimes challenge unfair practice. The Public Law Project provides clear information and guidance to help organisations make appropriate challenges.
If you feel that you have issues of concern around such things as changes to funding arrangements, service reviews or your relationship generally with a public sector body, SCVO would like to know and will treat all information received in the strictest confidence. Please contact leona@scvo.info or telephone 0121 525 1127 in the first instance or contact The Public Law Project on 020 7529 3161 or e-mail evsadvice@ncvo-vol.org.uk