Reading Compact

The Reading Compact is a key partnership that builds relationships between the voluntary and community sector, the local council and the health authority. It promotes understanding and co-operation between providers of local services whether statutory or voluntary. As such, its principles need to inform working practice throughout these organisations.

The Reading Compact:

• Acts as a forum where problems can be shared and resolved, and recommendations made to changes in approach in situations where Compact principles have not been followed

• Is the thread that links the voluntary sector to the Local Area Agreement (LAA), signing off their engagement in the process

• Aims to ensure that local VCS groups can compete for sustainable service contracts on an equal basis

• Recognises the importance of promotion of equality of opportunity for the town's diverse population and encourages engagement in grassroots activity at neighbourhood level