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Codes of Good Practice

Two codes of Good Practice under the Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in England have been published. They cover Consultation and Policy Appraisal and Funding

Contents

• Key points for effective consultation and policy appraisal

• Key points for an effective funding framework

• Getting the complete Codes of Good Practice

Key points for effective consultation and policy appraisal

• Build consultation into your regular planning cycle and consult early.

• Appraise new policies and procedures, particularly at the developmental stage, identifying as far as possible any implications for the sector at national, regional and local level.

• Give consultees enough time to respond and be clear about their purpose.

• Write documents in simple language and be clear about their purpose.

• Explain where decisions have already been made – make clear what you can change and what you can’t.

• Use more than one method of consultations and learn from others in both Government and the sector.

• Be flexible and sensitive to the needs of those you wish to consult – think about how to reach all of the intended target audience, and take account positively of the specific needs, interests and contributions of those parts of the sector which represent women, minority groups and the socially excluded.

• Encourage those consulted to give honest views, for example by assuring confidentiality when it is requested.

• Publicise the consultation and encourage participation by involving membership and infrastructure organisations.

• Analyse carefully the results of the consultation and report back on the views that were received and what you have done as a result.

• Evaluate carefully after consulting, and learn lessons for next time with the aim of achieving better policy outcomes.

Ten key points for an effective funding framework

• Value for money.

• Procedures that are consistent with the principles of good regulation and the need to provide effective protection of, and proper accountability for, public money.

• Respect for the sector’s independence.

• Improved sustainability and longer term planning, for example, through multi-year roll-forward funding.

• Recognition of core costs and the different ways these can be met.

• Support for the sector’s infrastructure.

• Fair access to strategic, project and contract funding.

• Improved co-operation and consistency between departments.

• Clarity in funding conditions.

• Joint approach to monitoring and evaluation with the aim of making a positive difference to the funding relationship between Government and the voluntary and community sector

Getting the complete Codes of Good Practice

Copies of the full documents are available from the Home Office website

Hard copies can be requested from either the Active Community Unit or the Working Group on Government Relations:

Last update: Friday, August 22, 2008