Nominations open for this year's Compact Awards

20 May 2009

Nominations open today for the 2009 Compact Awards, the annual awards which demonstrate the Compact in action and recognise and celebrate excellent partnership working.

The Compact is the 10-year-old agreement which sets out shared commitments and guidelines for working between government and the voluntary and community sector.

Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner for the Compact, said:

“The Compact plays a vital role in ensuring effective partnership working between the government and the voluntary and community sector, and these awards demonstrate some of the outstanding work taking place both on a local and a national level.  The results underline the importance of the Compact, showing the contribution this long-standing agreement makes day in, day out but especially so in times of recession.”

The Compact Awards are organised by the Commission for the Compact in partnership with Compact Voice and the Office of the Third Sector.  Since they were introduced in 2003, over 100 Awards and Compact Commendations have been awarded to recognise excellent partnership working.

This year’s nomination categories include:

  • Local Compact of the Year
  • Compact Champion of the Year
  • Compact Award for Innovation
  • Compact Award for Excellence at a National Level
  • The Commissioner’s Award 

Katy Wing from Derby Compact, which won the Local Compact of the Year award last year, said:

“The Local Compact of the Year award was a fantastic morale boost for everyone who has been involved with developing the Derby Compact over the years.  It was great to get some recognition for the work we are doing.  The award has helped to raise awareness of the Compact and its importance amongst local voluntary and statutory sector partners.  It has helped us to maintain the commitment and enthusiasm to work together to tackle the challenges ahead. It’s also been good to get Derby noticed and to share ideas and experiences with others across the country.”

Another 2008 winner, Andrew Law from Haringey Compact, said:

“Winning the Commissioner’s Award was a hugely encouraging affirmation of the creative and innovative partnership work across all the sectors that has resulted in the development of a robust Compact Proofing Toolkit that will embed a Compact way of working across Haringey.  The Haringey Compact ‘Working Better Together’ is driven by a unified and shared vision for better, more effective services for all.”

The closing date for entries for this year’s awards is Friday 21 August 2009 and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London during Compact Week on Tuesday 3 November 2009.  Information about how to enter the Compact Awards and an online entry form can be found at http://www.compactawards.org.uk/

Notes for Editors

  • The Compact was established in England in November 1998 and was inspired by the Deakin Commission report on the Future of the Voluntary Sector.  It is an agreement that provides an overall framework for promoting effective partnership working between the Government and the voluntary and community sector.  It aims to address areas of poor performance and sets out a statement of intent to work in partnership supported by five codes of practice covering funding and procurement, community groups, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups, volunteers and consultation.
  • Further information about the nomination categories:
    • Local Compact of the Year Award
      Awarded for excellent joint Compact working at a local level.
    • Compact Champion of the Year Award
      Awarded to an individual from any organisation in the public or third sector (i.e. ‘Compact Champions’, Third Sector Liaison Officers, etc) who has made a substantial contribution to Compact work, locally, regionally or nationally.
    • Compact Award for Innovation
      Awarded for developing and implementing an innovative idea, which has made a significant contribution to use of the Compact and made a difference to a local community.
    • Compact Award for Excellence at a National Level
      Awarded to a national partnership, Government department or a national third sector umbrella body for outstanding achievement in promoting and implementing the letter and spirit of the Compact.
    • The Commissioner’s Award
      Awarded by the Judging Panel in recognition of exceptional achievement.
  • This Judging Panel for this year’s Compact Awards will consist of the Commissioner for the Compact, members of the Commission’s Non-Executive Board, and representatives from Compact Voice, the Office of the Third Sector and the Local Government Association.
  • This year’s Compact Week takes place from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 November 2009.  Events and activities are taking place around the country to promote the Compact and its achievements and to encourage wider implementation of the Compact.

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact:

Catherine Byerley, Communications Officer
Commission for the Compact
Tel: 0121 237 5905
Email: catherine.byerley@thecompact.org.uk

 



The Compact