Local

Richard Rhodes, Cumbria's PCC (pictured), has signed up to the Cumbria Compact. Signing up to a local Compact is a great way for PCCs to engage with their local voluntary and community sector, and we'd encourage others to follow his example.

On 1 April 2013, local Healthwatch organisations became responsible for promoting the patient and public voice.

Healthwatch England have worked with Compact Voice to produce a guidance note, outlining how local Healthwatch can maintain their independence.

A report has highlighted that half of local authorities are cutting grant funding to the voluntary sector disproportionately, compared to the amount their own budgets are being reduced.

The report, produced by Compact Voice, reveals that despite statutory guidance issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government, the local voluntary sector continues to be seen as a soft target for budget reduction.

Cumbria’s Clinical Commissioning Group has become the first in the country to sign up to a local Compact.

 Cumbria has been part of Compact Voice’s Priority Areas Programme – Compact Voice works with different areas across England on specific projects to support Compact work - so we are particularly pleased with this development.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has written to local authorities, informing them that there is “no excuse for leaving the voluntary and community sector behind” when it comes to funding allocations.

Compact Voice has today issued Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to every local authority in England. We have asked questions which focus on the extent of both engagement and funding of the local voluntary and community sector.

Today Compact Voice has published findings from its recent survey of local Compact groups. The survey was sent to every local Compact area in England, with over three quarters providing information about how their local partnership agreement was working.

Compact Voice and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) have jointly published a guidance document, which is designed to provide information about the purpose and benefits of local Compacts to town and parish councils.

NCVO have published a new guide, which makes a series of recommendations for local authorities on the ways they can support the sector and alleviate strain by helping organisations adapt to any changes in funding.

Compact Voice has today published the results of a comprehensive survey into the state of local Compacts.
 
The survey is the first in an ongoing annual commitment to improve understanding of – and engagement with – local Compacts across England. The results provide a mixed, but encouraging, picture across the country.