Voluntary sector compact

A Compact is a protocol, or code of practice, that sets out the principles which statutory agencies (like local authorities, the health service and the police) and their voluntary and community partners (like the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Transport, and volunteer bureaux) will follow in their dealings with each other. Its purpose is to clarify, develop and embed good relations between the public and voluntary sectors in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.

In the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak, there are already excellent relationships between the voluntary and community sector and the statutory sector. So why have a Local Compact? Our success to date has been based on building good relationships between individuals. But as people leave and new people join, we need to make sure this successful engagement continues. Having some principles written down and agreed is helpful for new people coming along.

In the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak, the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) represents all the statutory and voluntary partners in the two districts. The LSP has signed up to the Derbyshire Compact, which covers funding, consultation, policy development, and other areas of good practice. It includes commitments for both the public sector partners and the voluntary and community partners. Although it is a Derbyshire-wide document, partners in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak have developed a Local Compact action plan so that it can be made to work best for our area.