Compact
- What is the Northumberland Compact?
- New look Northumberland Compact
- Associated codes & other material
- Summaries
- Supporting the Compact
- What is the Compact Reference Group?
- Compact Champions
What is the Northumberland Compact?
The Northumberland Compact is a short and simple agreement between the public sector and the voluntary & community sector (VCS). It is a commitment from both sides to work in partnership for the benefit and support of local communities.
The Compact establishes the ground rules for the relationship between VCS and public bodies. Success depends on individual and organisational commitment to a healthy relationship as well as the extent to which the principles of the Compact are adopted by both sides.
The Northumberland Compact was launched in the summer of 2005 when about 25 public bodies and VCS support organisations signed up to it. Since then that figure has grown to over 40. For a full list of those organisations, in both sectors, which have signed up to the Compact principles click here.
New look Northumberland Compact
In June 2010 a refreshed Northumberland Compact was launched. You can also download its Introduction. It was developed because the Compact Reference Group recognised that much had changed since 2005 and that it was important to align it to the national Compact which was revised in the autumn of 2009. Associated Codes
Associated Codes and other useful material
There are also codes of good practice developed in Northumberland which cover:
National guidance relating to commissioning was produced by the Commission for the Compact in February 2009. This should be used alongside our own Funding and Procurement Code. 
CommissioningGuidance.pdf 1.18 MB CommissioningGuidanceQAs.pdf The Commission also produced useful guidance which enables commissioners to procure in a way that follows Procurement Law and the Compact. Compact & Procurement Law
Summaries
If you are in a hurry, try these handy A4 sheets:
Summary of Northumberland Compact.pdf 82.52 KB
Summary of Funding Procurement Code.pdf 67.62 KB
Summary of Consultation Code.pdf 70.93 KB
Supporting the Compact
It couldn't be easier for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to sign up. Just download the sign-up form, complete it and return it. Your organisation will then be recognised as a signatory to the Compact.
What is the Compact Reference Group?
The Compact Reference Group represents a mechanism for keeping the principal stakeholders from VCS and public sectors informed and engaged in the process to strengthen relationships between the two sectors. The group meets quarterly and is made up of roughly equal numbers of both public sector and VCS organisations active in Northumberland. The VCS members are nominated by the Northumberland VCS Consortium. Click here for its current membership.
