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Sheffield Compact: strengthening the relationship between the Council and the local voluntary and community sector
The Sheffield Compact is an agreement between Sheffield City Council and the local Voluntary and Community sector. The Compact recognises the importance of the relationship between the sectors and aims to strengthen it by establishing a set of working principles to underpin the relationship and a framework for the implementation of better practice. Three codes of practice and guidance have been agreed covering:
- Consultation
- Partnership Working
- Funding
There is an agreed Disputes Procedure, which aims to resolve conflicts that arise when practice contradicts the principles of the Compact. The Compact has also produced a Premises Pack which provides information about how to approach the Council for premises.
Click on the links below to read more about Sheffield Compact:
Aims and Objectives
The Compact Vision is to:
- Achieve better understanding between the sectors.
- Establish a framework and procedures to address difficulties.
- Develop and establish better practice in relation to key areas.
- Enhance and increase collaborative working on planning and service delivery.
- Break down the barriers between the sectors and improve communication.
- Ensure that the Compact moves forward and implements real change.
Why do we have a Compact in Sheffield?
In 1998, the Government published a National Compact with the Voluntary & Community Sector recognising the value and importance of the sector and making a number of commitments about ways of working. In recognition of the importance of the relationship of local government to the local Voluntary & Community Sector, many cities and local areas are developing similar agreements.
How was the Compact developed?
Voluntary Action Sheffield and the Black Community Forum invited people to join a working group to develop the Sheffield Compact. The first draft was published in July 1999 for consultation with the Voluntary & Community Sector. This culminated in a citywide event, in October 1999, attended by a wide range of groups from across the sector. The consultation demonstrated strong support for the Compact and wide agreement with many of the principles and guidelines.
In addition, the Voluntary Sector Liaison Team, in the Regeneration and Partnership Service of Sheffield City Council, held consultations with Council Officers and Elected Members. The Compact document incorporates responses from both consultations and was launched in June 2000.
Who is involved in the Compact?
The Compact Steering Group membership is made up from:
- Sheffield City Council Officers
- Two Elected Members (councillors)
- Voluntary and Community Sector Representatives
Chronology - key events since the launch of the Compact:
1998: National Compact launched.
1999: Working group estanlished in Sheffield to develop local Compact.
2000, June: Compact document launched in Sheffield.
2000, November: First meeting of the Interim Steering Group.
2001, October: Annual event to develop annual workplan and to look at developing local
codes of practice for consultation, partnership working, and funding.
2002, February: Executive Group established, to ensure consistency across the Compact structure and a more robust planning structure for the Steering Group.
2002: Sheffield recognised as an example of good practice, in the second National Compact Annual Report to Parliament as one of 32 out of 388 English Local Authorities.
2002, August: Three codes of practice and guidance (consultation, partnership working, and funding) and a disputes procedure launched, including the establishment of the Disputes Panel.
2003, March: Partnership Working and Good Practice Event bringing together Council officers and members of the VCS with shared areas of interest to share experiences, practice and so on.
2004: Review of representation and membership of the Compact, resulting in calls for expressions of interest and revised terms of reference for the Steering Group, to ensure continuing relevance and reflect changing areas of interest.
2004: Establishment of the Property Sub Group.
2005, March: Launch of the Compact Premises Pack.
2005, March: Third Compact Annual Event: ‘Getting Ready for Contracts’.
2005, December: Compact commended at the National Compact Annual General Meeting for local Compact policy development.
2006, ongoing: Review and revision of the Compact principles, codes of practice and disputes procedure.2007, August: The revised Compact is now out for consultation, deadline 12 October 2007.
Further Information
For further information about the work of Sheffield Compact, including the Compact document itself, please download the documents at the bottom of this page, download the codes of practice and disputes procedure, or download the premises pack.
Read about the Compact between national government and the Voluntary & Community Sector.
For hard copies of the Compact codes of practice, other information and opportunities to get involved contact us.
How to contact us
E-mail us: compact@sheffield.gov.uk
Ring us: 0114 273 5400
Write to us: Sheffield Compact, Policy Support Team, Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership, Neighbourhoods and Community Care, Sheffield City Council, Town Hall, Sheffield, S1 2HH.
Downloads
Compact document and codes of practice between Sheffield City Council and the local Voluntary and Community Sector. (216 KB)
Summary of the background, development, and current activities of the Compact between Sheffield City Council and the local Voluntary and Community Sector. (42 KB)
Information and signposting to sources of further information for some of the main funding streams in Sheffield. (80.5 KB)
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