The Government has encouraged the adoption of the Compact principles and guidelines at a local level, where most voluntary and community activity takes place. The purpose of Local Compacts is to improve working relationships by setting the framework for forging partnerships between statutory agencies and the VCS at a local level.

Local Compacts recognise the value and respective roles of partners and offer a means of supporting the development of the capacity of the Voluntary and Community Sector so that independent accountable Voluntary and Community Organisations can do more to meet their own aims and the shared goals of partners, thereby enhancing their contribution to the community.

local Compact Guidelines
Guidance produced by the Government on preparing Local Compacts suggests that they should include a number of key principles while each Local Compact should reflect the local context within which it is applied. The Portsmouth Local Compact, developed in 2004 adheres to the following principles:

• A shared vision.
• Key principles for joint working in the locality.
• The commitment of statutory agencies to the Voluntary and Community Sector (including funding, policy development and consultation).
• The commitment of the Voluntary and Community Sector to the statutory agencies (including accountability, consultation, and good practice).
• The involvement of socially excluded groups.
• Ways of solving disagreements.

• meet the needs of all residents of Portsmouth
• empower local communities and interest groups to effectively address their needs
• promote and implement equal opportunities
• encourage a diversity of service provision and wherever possible, choice for clients
• encourage people to get involved in the development and management of activities and services
• adopt best practice in joint working

1. First, gain knowledge from the national COMPACT website at http://www.thecompact.org.uk/
2. Request a local Portsmouth COMPACT pack from Community First for Portsmouth 023 9287 2110 or click here to download. The Local Compact includes five Codes of Good Practice applicable to Portsmouth.
3. Distribute a COMPACT pack to all staff and ensure COMPACT is explained at Staff/Trustee meetings by making it a regular agenda item.
4. Put up an information board or display posters to raise awareness
5. "Insight" is the supplied by the COMPACT agency responsible for its implementation and development. You can download a copy from the Compact website. Give a copy to all staff or put updates in your staff newsletter with specific reference to important issues highlighted from it.
6. Motivate staff to nominate a COMPACT CHAMPION who is well versed with the workings of COMPACT and can be a contact point in the organisation.
7. Ensure staff understand the COMPACT grievance procedure: what to do if a relationship between the statutory organisations e.g. City Council and/or other Voluntary/Community Organisation breaks down, or if either party is not operating in accordance with the original agreement.
8. Identify ways to highlight COMPACT successes! The Portsmouth COMPACT WORKING GROUP exists as part of Portsmouth Community Network. Successes can be fed back via a COMPACT CHAMPION who can then feed information to Portsmouth City Council, Community First for Portsmouth, or another COMPACT WORKING GROUP member (member’s names can be obtained by contacting Community First on 023 9282 7110).

If you would like to be involved in the Portsmouth COMPACT, contact Mik Norman at Community First for Portsmouth on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 023 9282 7110 or Delyth Horsley at Portsmouth City Council on 023 9283 4169 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it



Let us show the success of compact working in Portsmouth!

The Compact Working Group agreed to implement a programme of Compact Awareness through 2009/10 including ideas from the event, a sign-up programme for local groups, presentations by Compact Champions, signing up the Business Community to the Compact, and ensuring Local Partnerships are referenced to the Compact. A busy but exciting agenda - so watch this space.

Original partner signatories to the Portsmouth Compact include:

• Community First for Portsmouth
• Portsmouth Community Network
• Portsmouth City Council
• Portsmouth (NHS) Primary Care Trust
• Portsmouth (NHS) Hospitals Trust
• Hampshire Constabulary
• National Probation Service