Bristol Compact in 2004

The first week of November was Compact Week and this year its focus was on ‘quality’. This is the quality that comes from the Voluntary and Community Sector working in partnership with statutory agencies and joining up both the planning and delivery of a complex mix of Government initiatives and policies. The other half of this year’s message “Working together – better together” invites us to look at the positive outcomes that can result from improved relationships.

Framework

A compact is a set of working principles and a framework for developing better practice between statutory agencies (which includes Primary Care Trusts and Health Authorities as well as local, regional and national government) and the Voluntary and Community Sector. In reality, although it’s a formal written agreement, it isn’t legally binding but it is supported by a complaints and mediation structure for when things go wrong, and partners to the Compact can’t agree.

Added Value

The Compact’s real value is that it recognises the importance of the Voluntary and Community Sector and the added value and expertise we bring. Also, that all areas of Government need to work in partnership with the Sector because a healthy Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) is vital to a democratic and open society; and let’s not forget the role we have in delivering vital services to our communities. The process of bringing partners together to develop a Compact and the consultation with the VCS is key to its success.

We must own it as a statement of the vision and aims that all the partners have in common, and support the practice of positive partnership working, which treats the VCS as an equal partner.

Compact's affect on you

So how will the Compact affect you, day in and day out, as you struggle to provide front line services; and what kind of actions are you being asked to ‘sign up’ to carrying out?

As part of the Full Cost Recovery guidance we have asked that all agencies who fund work carried out by the VCS must take account of the true costs for carrying out that work. We are proposing that a realistic level of core costs should be allowed as part of any funding bid. A lot of work has been done on this issue by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, ACEVO, and details of their report can be purchased on the ACEVO website; or you can use the Voscur library copy, contact the Voscur office on Tel. 0117 909 9949, to arrange a visit to our library.

Skills & Training

The action that the VCS is being asked to agree with is that groups and organisations must use recognised and appropriate methods for identifying core costs and calculate budgets that build in full cost recovery to all fundraising (and especially short term project funding). The Sector must both be supported to develop their skills and understanding on these issues and be prepared to engage with such training.

Early Involvement

Within the Procurement guidance we ask that statutory agencies take appropriate action when preparing to commission services or put work out to tender. For example, the VCS must be asked to get involved early on, while the commissioning process is being planned. Our responsibilities include getting clued up about what procurement and commissioning mean and how we can take on more work from statutory agencies.

Direct Impact

Both the Full Cost Recovery and Procurement guidance will have a direct impact on the income and sustainability of groups or organisations who can take advantage of the opportunities they provide. It’s our Compact and we can and must shape it. We must use it to support and enhance our relationship to and partnership working with the statutory sector. The rewards may not be immediately recognisable, but these are the most important sets of relationships the Sector has and, as such, any agreement which exists to regulate and improve the behavior and attitude of the statutory sector towards the VCS must be taken full advantage of.

The Bristol Compact Working Group has just finished drafting a set of funding and procurement implementation codes >> See Article

The period of consultation for the Funding and Procurement Implementation codes will be from:
2 November 2004 until 2 February 2005.