The Bedfordshire and Luton Compact is the agreement between local statutory organisations and the voluntary and community sector to improve and develop their relationships for the benefit of the communities they serve.

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The original Bedfordshire and Luton Compact was agreed in 2001, since when the landscape for both local public bodies and the voluntary and community sector has changed dramatically.

This new Compact is more concise and is based on The Compact on Relations between the Government and the Third Sector in England (December 2009) and the revised Compact published by the Coalition Government (December 2010).

Compact Principles

The Compact outlines the relationship between the public sector and the voluntary and community sector, allowing them to work together more effectively to strengthen communities and improve people’s lives.

The Compact is neither a set of rules nor a bureaucratic burden, but a way of working that can help deliver real outcomes and improvements for people and communities. A common set of principles has been created to help the public sector and the voluntary and community sector build relationships and work together effectively in partnership.

The shared principles of the Compact are:

• Respect: Differences between the public and voluntary and community sectors are mutually understood, acknowledged and respected.
• Honesty: Open communication, transparency and integrity.
• Independence: The independence of voluntary and community organisations in fulfilling their mission is recognised and supported. This includes their right within the law to campaign, to comment on and to challenge public sector policy (whatever
  funding or other relationship may exist with the public sector) and to determine and manage their own affairs.
• Citizen empowerment: Valuing a thriving civil society that is built around communities and people, meeting their needs and reflecting their choices.
• Volunteering: The energy and commitment of people giving their time for the public good contributes to a vibrant society, and should be recognised and appreciated.

The Compact’s commitments put these shared principles into practice through:

• Advancing equality and diversity
• Involvement in policy development
• Allocating resources.

Has your organisation signed up?

Every organisation that signs up to the Bedfordshire and Luton Compact, is making a public pledge  to conduct themselves within the guidelines and principles set out in the document. The more organisations that sign up, the stronger the Compact will be. You can either download a signup form below, or contact the Secretariat:

• Bedfordshire & Luton Compact Signup Form
  

The Compact Secretariat can be contacted at:

Compact Secretariat
Bedfordshire and Luton Compact
Community and Voluntary Service
The Bedford Centre for Voluntary Services
43 Bromham Road
Bedford
MK40 2AA

Tel: 01234 354366

compact@yourcvs.org

Bedfordshire & Luton Compact Signatories

A list of those organisations already signed up can be downloaded below:

• Beds & Luton Compact Signatories

Promoting the Compact

If you wish to promote the Bedfordshire & Luton Compact within your organisation or to other organisations you can use the following Power Point Presentation:

• Beds & Luton Power Point Presentation

Local Compact Quotes

Central Bedfordshire has agreed to adopt the Bedfordshire and Luton Compact, a working document aimed at developing a close, efficient and more effective equal working partnership between local, voluntary and community organisations and statutory agencies.

Richard Ellis, Director of Business Transformation for Central Bedfordshire said: “Central Bedfordshire and it’s voluntary and community organisations enjoy good working relationships and share many aspirations; dedication to public life, support for the development of strong and healthy communities, and the pursuit of inclusiveness. The community and voluntary sector in Bedfordshire deliver high quality services across all sectors of our communities, and in doing so help us deliver our strategic objectives.

“The Compact builds on these good relationships and will continue with the development of genuine working partnerships that deliver our joint priorities in Central Bedfordshire”.

Colin Poulter, Coordinator for Mid Beds Link a Ride said: “Compact had a direct impact for Link a Ride as it enabled us to enter into a lease agreement for our fleet of vehicles. This provided brand new minibuses and removed the need for capital to repair and renew them. It also gave job security for the drivers and enabled investment in staff training”.

Martin Trinder, Chief Officer for Community and Voluntary Service added: “In adopting the Compact, Central Bedfordshire has made a clear statement that it values the local voluntary and community sector, which has a unique role as an advocate for local people, particularly those marginalised in society, and as a service provider”.

John Gelder, Director of Voluntary and Community Action summed up: “The Compact will provide an excellent framework for consultation and partnership working and we welcome the opportunity this presents to engage with Central Bedfordshire in the development of services to improve the quality of life for local residents and those who use the services provided by the sector”.

Useful Links

Commission for the Compact Report: What makes a Successful Compact

Download: Commission for the Compact Report: What makes a Successful Compact