High Peak Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) has a lead role in developing a local compact within the High Peak Community Strategy. This role reflects some of the main areas of work of the CVS through liaison, enabling representation and partnership working.

High Peak Borough Council is committed to supporting and developing the voluntary and community groups in the High Peak and is seeking to increase partnership working through a local compact.

The Community Strategy prioritises a local compact to further develop the relationship the voluntary and community sector has with statutory organisations and build stronger and clearer working arrangements with High Peak Borough Council and others.

A closer working relationship can have advantages for all including building on the comprehensive 'Community Strategy' for High Peak.

Although there are many challenges to be faced having an agreed framework for partnership working can have its advantages. The starting point is to understand each others' roles and needs. Some of the questions that arise include What funding and resources can statutory bodies put in place to maintain and develop community and voluntary groups? How can voluntary and community groups ensure they have a voice in matters which affect them and those they work with? What resources do voluntary and community groups require to take an active role in partnership working? How can statutory bodies remove the barriers to voluntary and community groups playing an active role? Can a local compact between the voluntary and community sector and statutory agencies provide a framework for mutual understanding and better communication?

The High Peak Council for Voluntary Service and High Peak Borough Council organised this day for groups to come together to discuss issues, explore how we can work together and identify the next steps.

The day involved time to talk and discuss together those issues which a Compact could provide a framework for. For example one discussion area is funding. We will be drawing on your thoughts and ideas to develop the Compact and a draft will be circulated to you for further comments