Slough Borough Council

Voluntary, community and public sector compact

A commitment by Slough’s voluntary and community sector and statutory bodies to strengthen partnership working.

Background

The government has encouraged local authorities across the UK to draw up compacts, agreements between the public sector and voluntary and community sector (VCS). Local compacts have been established in order to develop and improve working relationships between the two sectors set in a framework of shared understanding and respect for mutual benefit.

Slough Compact

Following an independent research exercise that looked at Slough VCS issues it was decided to push forward the development of a Slough Compact and the Slough Compact Steering Group was formed. The first task that the group undertook was to develop the overall guiding principles that the Slough Compact would be based on (see accompanying PDF document).

Protocols

Having established how the public sector and VCSs intend to work together, the next step was to look at specific areas of interaction between the two bodies and to draw up similar working agreements or protocols. Protocols are a set of agreed principles or codes of practice established in order to produce easily understood and followed working practices. The following areas have been looked at:

• Finance and funding
• Accommodation and premises
• Communication
• Community engagement (consultation)
• Working with Black and ethnic minority groups

Slough Compact [ PDF ]

For further information on the Slough Compact download our leaflet below or contact: 01753 524176 or 875610.

Slough Compact leaflet [ PDF ]

Useful websites

The Compact

Local Government Association

The Raise Network