The Dudley Compact – Defining and strengthening our relationships for a strong and vibrant voluntary and community sector in Dudley borough

What is the Dudley Compact?

The Dudley Compact is an agreement between the local statutory organisations and the voluntary and community sector in Dudley borough. It aims to define and strengthen relationships by establishing principles and commitments to which all parties to the Compact sign up. Over the past 6 months, partners from across the system have been working to update and refresh the Dudley Compact and to establish Compact Champions and a Compact Oversight Group. Further details about the role of the Champions and the Oversight Group are provided in the Compact document itself.

Foreword by the Chair of Dudley Health and Wellbeing Board

I am pleased to agree this revised and refreshed Dudley Compact as it demonstrates how important I believe that a strong and active voluntary and community sector is to the vitality of the borough. The council is committed to working with the sector, as an essential and independent partner, in encouraging people to take part in our society, in creating new opportunities and in improving the lives of our communities. It is a challenging time for both the public and voluntary and community sectors, and indeed the private sector, and it is as important now as it ever has been that we make the relationship work.

There have been some notable successes since the first Dudley Compact was agreed almost a decade ago, but we could have also done better. I want to build on these successes in finding new and improved ways of working with voluntary and community organisations in Dudley, and by learning from when things have not gone quite so well. We are fortunate in having so many enthusiastic and committed people in the borough working or volunteering in voluntary and community organisations, so we have a great foundation on which to build.

The Dudley Compact is supported by:

· Dudley Health and Wellbeing Board
· Dudley Health and Care Partnership Board
· Dudley Safe and Sound Board
· Dudley Forging a Future Board
· Dudley Council for Voluntary Service

Read a full copy of the Dudley Compact here: Compact Refresh June 2024