The Compact is a written document which sets out a formal framework through which statutory and voluntary sector organisations will work together to achieve common aims and aspirations for the ultimate benefit of local people.

Compacts are not legally binding documents, rather their authority comes from the fact that they are developed, consulted upon and formally adopted by local stakeholders themselves. The Compact document will not be static, but will be monitored, developed and amended over time in order to reflect the changing needs and priorities of the local community.

Although good informal working relationships have been found to already exist between the statutory and voluntary sectors in this District, this position tends to be rooted in specific professional relationships which have built up between organisations and individuals over the course of time. The Compact will offer a systematic approach to partnership working between the sectors which guarantees equality of status and access to all stakeholders regardless of prior professional involvement.

The Compact was launched on January 2003 and there is a Compact Action Team (CAT) still developing codes of good practice when dealing with different issues such as funding and black and minority ethnic voluntary and community organisations.

One of the CAT tasks is to ensure that as many voluntary, community and statutory bodies as possible know what the Compact is and have a copy of it.

The Compact can be used in many situations including dealing with funding. This is because the statutory organisations which have signed up to this document will have agreed to inform and consult the voluntary sector with regard to any changes to the funding position or future funding as early as possible. Whereas a voluntary group who has signed up to the Compact will be expected to respond fully to statutory sector consultation, including representation at meetings where possible.

Tendring District Council, who have led on the development of the Compact, would like to invite other voluntary and community organisations to sign up to the Compact.

View the Tendring Compact here (in adobe acrobat pdf format)

The CAT has been tasked with developing codes of practice for the following issues to provide specific guidance:

- Black and minority ethnic voluntary and community organisations;
- Community groups;
- Consultation and policy appraisal;
- Volunteering; and
- Funding and procurement.

View the Volunteering Code of Practice (in adobe acrobat pdf format)

The draft Compact Code of Good Practice on Funding and Procurement (below) has been published for consultation with the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and any other statutory and voluntary agencies within the Tendring District until 28 September.

View the funding code of practice introduction (in adobe acrobat pdf format), and

View the local funding code (in adobe acrobat pdf format)

Please contact the Community Projects Officer on 01255 6863548.

Click here for information on funding sources for your organisation.