Compact

Established in 1998, the Compact is an agreement between government agencies and the voluntary and community sector in England that aims to improve their relationship for mutual advantage and community gain. It recognises shared values, principles and commitments and sets out guidelines for how both parties should work together.

It is widely recognised that in the first ten years of the Compact, the government paid little more than lip-service to the agreement. But in 2008 it established the Commission for the Compact, a non-departmental public body responsible for overseeing the Compact and ensuring its codes of good practice are adhered to.

A revised Compact is due to be published in November 2009.