Statutory, voluntary and community groups working together – the Compact for East Sussex

The Compact for East Sussex is an agreement about relations between organisations in the county such as:

• statutory organisations – including the County Council, District and Borough Councils, Health Services
• voluntary organisations – registered charities and voluntary groups, for example Age Concern and Mind
• community groups – like the Scouts, local clubs or neighbourhood watch schemes.

It has been drawn up in consultation with a wide range of people, groups and organisations across the county. The Compact includes:

• common aims that will help achieve goals and develop the services that these organisations deliver
• shared principles that recognise integrity and accountability, openness and objectivity and honesty and leadership
• six codes of practice that outline best practice in line with Government guidelines and local needs and circumstances
• a process for the resolution of any disagreements that may arise between organisations.

The Compact is revised and developed annually to ensure that it remains current for all organisations in East Sussex. The current version is available to download below.

Have you signed up?

All voluntary, community and statutory sector organisations in East Sussex are encouraged to sign up to this Compact. A list of organisations that have currently signed up is available to download below. If you belong to an East Sussex organisation that has not yet signed up and you would like to do so, please contact us about the Compact.

Scrutiny review

We have reviewed how we work with voluntary and community groups. The review board reported in March 2008. You can download the findings and recommendations here:

• Scrutiny review of our relationship with voluntary and community groups

Annual reviews

• Compact review 2009
• Compact review 2008
• Compact review 2007
• Compact review 2006

Acrobat (PDF)
A snappy guide to the Compact (31k) Summary of the Compact and its codes of practice. (2 pages)
A Compact for East Sussex (666k) The full Compact and its codes of practice. (28 pages)
Voluntary and Statutory Sector Signatories to the East Sussex Compact (16k) A list of organisations that are signed up to the East Sussex Compact. Updated April 2007. (2 pages)
Compact steering group terms of reference (9k) The purpose, membership and operation of the Compact steering group 2007 (2 pages)
Compact strategy 2007-2012 (37k) Document setting out our values, principles and commitments for how we can work with effectively with the voluntary and community sector to achieve more for our communities.(8 pages)
Compact Action Plan 2009-2010 (37k) The actions to be undertaken in 2009–2010 by the East Sussex Compact Steering Group.
Understanding the Compact 2009 (109k) Everything you need to know about the East Sussex Compact. (10 pages)
Compact code of practice checklists (94k) These checklists will help you to understand how you can meet specific Compact undertakings. Each checklist should be used as a reference tool for the code of practice activity in which you are involved. (9 pages)
Using the code of practice checklists (378k) Guidance for using the code of practice checklists, including examples for specific situations. (1 page)
Introductory presentation to the Compact (1442k) A short PowerPoint presentation to help Compact Champions and signatory organisations introduce the basics of the Compact to new audiences. 5 slides. (If you don't have PowerPoint software, download one of the viewers or converters above.)