A Compact between
Crewe and Nantwich Voluntary and Community Sector
and the Local and County Statutory Sector
A Strategic Framework for partnership between the Voluntary & Community and Statutory Sector Organisations operating in Crewe and Nantwich
Launched 2004
Revised March 2007
Supported by Cheshire County Council, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, Central Cheshire PCT and Crewe and Nantwich Voluntary Action
Joint Foreword
A Steering Group of Voluntary Sector members and representatives from the Community and Statutory Sectors developed this agreement, in order to provide a framework for mutual trust and acceptance of the respective roles and responsibilities of Voluntary, Community and Statutory groups.
The Steering Group endeavoured to set out in this Compact document, a Strategic Framework, to support the key principles and values for partnership working between the Voluntary, Community and Statutory Sectors. The Steering Group will also endeavour to extend the same key principles and values to the Private Sector, where appropriate.
Differences in approach between the Voluntary, Community and Statutory Sectors can make partnership working challenging. The advantages of partnership and the pros and cons are of concern to all of the groups involved. Therefore the strategic framework in which partnerships are developed will be crucial to effective participation in the future.
The Compact Steering Group was established formally, in the autumn of 2002. The Local Strategic Partnership Co-ordinating Group formally recognised the work; a presentation was given to the Borough Forum in November of 2002. The Voluntary and Community Sector Forum met in December of 2002 as part of the process of informing and developing the wider network.
The intention is to build a new framework which will guide and sustain all partnerships within the Voluntary and Community Sectors, and to recognise the crucial role of Voluntary and Community Organisations in building and promoting an active healthy community in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich, in which we live and work.
The second edition of this document (launched March 2007) is the result of wide consultation throughout the Voluntary and Community Sectors and with other partners. This has included consultation events focusing on the needs of the Black and Minority Ethnic Sector, consultation review periods and research into the possibility of adding new Codes of Practice to ensure that the Crewe and Nantwich Compact fully reflects the diversity and needs of the communities within the Borough.
The Crewe and Nantwich Compact is based on the COMPACT between the Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Local Compact Guidelines document; good practice guidelines have been adopted where available.
“We are committed to working together to ensure the Compact Codes of Practice are implemented within our partnership”
What is the COMPACT?
- A Compact is a written understanding and statement of partnership between the key local Statutory Sector Agencies and the Voluntary and Community Sector. It is a commitment to work together more closely, and to respect each other’s rights and responsibilities. It offers a new approach to partnership, and a framework to develop more detailed agreements in specific areas in the future
- The national Compact on relations between Government and the Community and Voluntary Sector was published in November 1998. This provides a framework to help to guide the relationship at every level and is seen as a document of both practical and symbolic importance. It recognises the contribution to society that Voluntary and Community group’s make, and acknowledges their independence
- The Crewe and Nantwich Compact recognises the considerable local activity of the Voluntary and Community Sector and the constructive relationships established over many years between the Voluntary and Community Sector and the key local Statutory Agencies
- The Crewe & Nantwich Local Strategic Partnership, which includes the County Council; the Borough Council; the Primary Care Trust; South Cheshire College and the Voluntary and Community Sector agencies in Crewe and Nantwich recognise the valuable contribution each makes to many aspects of life within the Borough. They are committed to developing an effective partnership to serve the interests of the citizens of Crewe and Nantwich
- There is recognition that all parties may have different viewpoints on particular issues although there is a shared will to work together, resolving any conflict, and that there is a respect for each parties different roles
- There is a recognition that all parties commit to the broad principles of the Community Strategy
2. The Aims and Objectives are to:
- Improve communication, common understanding, collaboration, trust and respect between the Community and Voluntary Sector and the Statutory Sector
- Set out principles for developing working relationships between the Community, Voluntary, and Statutory Sectors
- Set out a framework for effective consultation, representation and partnership working, including agreed definitions and shared values on joint undertakings
3. Partnership Equalities Agreement
All partners agree to:
- Undertake positive action to promote equality of opportunity and inclusion for all people regardless of age, appearance, care responsibilities, class, disability, employment status, HIV status, income, gender, marital status, health status, sexuality, race, ethnic background, religion, place of residence or resident status within Crewe and Nantwich
- Undertake positive action that demonstrates awareness of the diversity of needs, information, support and financial resources required to enable all people especially volunteers to participate in consultation and partnership working
- Recognise that a successful partnership must be on the basis that the voluntary sector is an equal in all respects
- Listen to each other and respond constructively
- Increase community involvement and participation by supporting volunteering activity
- Identify, develop and promote good practice
- To identify and develop activities and projects which reflect and address local needs
- Work together with accountability, honesty, integrity, objectivity and transparency
- Acknowledge the importance of doing everything they can reasonably do to prevent crime and disorder in the area
- Represent information fairly and respect confidentiality where required
- Work with an ethos that encourages the resolution of conflict and puts in place agreed processes to rectify any breakdowns in communication
- Work together to gather information that maps and audits the contribution of each sector to the social, economic and environmental well being of Crewe and Nantwich and to disseminate such information
- That all partners are accountable for their actions, and common throughout is the need for thorough and appropriate management of the processes involved in developing a workable agreement
4. Process for Implementation and Review
All partners agree to:
- Demonstrate commitment to, and share responsibility for implementing and reviewing the Compact Codes of Practice
- Distribute the Compact Codes of Practice widely and provide induction and training within their organisations to raise awareness of how the agreement affects joint working
- Establish evaluation criteria of the Compact Codes of Practice by including it in annual plans and targets
- Establish and adopt a procedure within organisations by which those dissatisfied with the implementation of the Compact are able to raise concerns and have these addressed
There are 6 Codes of Practice linked to the Crewe & Nantwich Compact - these can be downloaded from the links below:
- The Code of Practice on Funding
- The Code of Practice on Volunteering
- The Code of Practice on Black and Minority Ethnic Voluntary and Community Groups
- The Code of Practice on Community Groups
- The Code of Practice on Partnership Working
- The Code of Practice on Consultation
- Equality and Diversity Code
- Crewe and Nantwich Compact Disputes Policy