The Gateshead Compact 2024 to 2027

Commitment 1: Allocating financial resources fairly

Shared commitments:

• We will consider carefully whether grants or contracts are the most appropriate method of funding, as opportunities arise.
• We will integrate the principles of intelligent commissioning and procurement and social value into all commissioning and procurement process and policy.
• We will work cooperatively with partners, local people and communities, to inform service development proposals and to ensure resources are used effectively and value for money.
• We will ensure all stages of the commissioning and procurement process are as inclusive as possible.
• We recognise we are working in a fast-changing environment and will be sensitive to the challenges this presents.
• We recognise sometimes our collaborative approaches will cut across traditional boundaries and responsibilities.
• We will share best practice.
• We will share resources, where possible, to help increase our efficiency and effectiveness.

Public-sector commitments:

• We will move towards co-production and ensure, where appropriate, the involvement of the VCSE sector in a range of opportunities from the earliest possible point in the process.
• All commissioning and procurement activity will consider local markets and the VCSE sector to maximise and embed social value in our communities.
• We will publicise information about funding and procurement opportunities and we will follow realistic, and clearly communicated, timescales when this is not possible, we will explain why this is the case.
• Commissioners will collaborate where appropriate, involve the VCSE sector, and try to align decisions.
• We will seek multi-year funding commitments and engage in joint commissioning and/or procurement where demonstrably appropriate, and in line with our statutory and contracting requirements.
• We will recognise that the VCSE sector is made up of predominantly very small organisations and that their capacity to engage with us is increased if we appropriately fund their time and are thoughtful about our ask of them.
• We will balance the need for accountability and value for money with a commitment to proportionate and effective processes that monitor and evaluate.
• We will adhere to internal codes of practice when making payments to the VCSE sector and these will be clearly communicated.
• We understand that making payments in a timely manner is critical for smaller VCSE organisations.
• We recognise that, in some circumstances, flexible payment arrangements may be required to enable more VCSE sector organisations to engage in financial and service development opportunities.
• We will seek to support the VCSE sector in ways other than funding. This support will differ between partners and may include, for example, supporting volunteering, in-kind support, or sharing good practice and skills.
• We will be aware of potential opportunities which may benefit gateshead people and communities and we will share our knowledge with the VCSE sector.
• We recognise new ways of working may involve risk, and may require a supportive approach.

VCSE sector commitments:

• We will respond constructively to appropriate opportunities for co-production.
• We will recognise and promote social value in our activities, leading others by example to value the impact of their activity on local communities.
• We will facilitate feedback from service users and communities to help improve delivery of programmes and services and ensure that consultation responses accurately reflect the views and experiences of service users and communities.
• We will share information based on our experience and knowledge to help shape and inform any analysis of the needs of communities and appropriate allocation of resources. We will enter into collaborative partnerships with other VCSE sector organisations and the public sector to develop, and deliver, appropriate services within the context of available resources.
• We will be open and transparent about reporting, recognising that proportionate monitoring is an aspect of good management practice and a reasonable expectation of distributors of funds.
• We will collaborate to achieve better outcomes for residents.

Commitment 2. Promoting equality, community cohesion and social inclusion

Shared commitments:

• We will work together to agree outcomes and approaches to reduce inequalities in our borough. The JSNA will help us to do this.
• We will ensure the voices of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups, and those with living or lived experience, are heard and taken into account when designing and implementing policies, programmes and services. This will include an assessment of impact.
• We will ensure the decisions we take are fair and transparent and that we have appropriate communication plans in place.
• We will take practical action to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality and ensure a voice for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
• We will embed service user and carer involvement in the commissioning and procurement process.
• We will seek advice and input from experienced organisations as well as service users and carers.
• We will promote good relations between diverse VCSE sector organisations and between the public and VCSE sector.
• We will do this by communicating clearly and developing and supporting opportunities for collaboration and partnership working.
• We will value good working practices, promoting improved ethical standards to others.

Public sector commitments:

• We will work with VCSE sector organisations that represent, support or provide services to people specifically protected by legislation and other underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
• We will recognise good working practices as creating social value and we will support organisations to improve their ethical standards and influence others.
• We acknowledge that organisations representing specific disadvantaged or underrepresented groups can help promote social and community cohesion and should have fair access to funding and commissioning and procurement opportunities.
• We will evidence the effects of grant funding, commissioning and procurement through robust evaluation.
• We will respond constructively to feedback from the VCSE sector.
• We recognise and value the perspectives of the VCSE sector in influencing and shaping policy, strategy and practice.

VCSE sector commitments:

• We will share our specialist knowledge and best practice to assist the public sector to fulfil its duties under the Equality Act.
• We will assist public agencies to engage with the community by providing advice on appropriate ways of engaging and by sharing consultation information to users of services and/or members of communities on issues of concern to them.
• We will take practical action to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality and build stronger communities.
• We will represent and reflect the views of people and communities who are often excluded, by using the reach and trust we have developed.

Commitment 3: Consulting and involving the VCSE sector and service users

Our shared commitments:

• We will use an appropriate range of tools to engage groups and individuals in consultations.
• We will aim to offer 12 weeks of consultation time wherever possible.
• We will work with our partners to find out what is already known and what other consultations are planned, so that we can avoid duplication and explore joint consultations.
• We will only consult on things that we can affect the outcome of, and we will report back on what this is.
• We will consider social value in consultation, to increase the positive impact of our activity on our communities.
• We will acknowledge the contribution of others where it is given.
• We will ensure that consultations are clear about what they are asking and who should answer so that people contributing do not waste their time if it's not appropriate.

Public-sector commitments:

• We recognise VCSE sector organisations are connected with people and communities and that those relationships can help make consultation more thorough and effective.
• We will facilitate appropriate involvement of the VCSE sector in all key stages of the commissioning and procurement process.
• We will work together to minimise rolling over contracts.
• We will consider social value in our consultation processes and use information to commission and procure for greater social value impact.

VCSE sector commitments:

• We will support local people and communities to be engaged in civil society and to contribute to consultations as appropriate.
• We will be clear about who we are representing, in what capacity, and on what basis that representation is being made.
• We recognise that some consultations will be subject to statutory requirements or involve significant changes and the desired 12-week consultation time may be different for these.

Commitment 4: Promoting and supporting volunteering

Shared commitments:

• We recognise that volunteering is the bedrock of the VCSE sector and that volunteering capacity has reduced since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We recognise that volunteering has positive health benefits for individuals, as well as a positive impact on wider society.
• We recognise volunteering has costs which impact upon the resources and capacity of volunteer involving organisations and we recognise volunteers should not be used as replacements for paid employees.
• Mutual respect: we support the idea that volunteers should expect to gain something in return for giving their time, energy and skills. This could include, for example, a sense of worthwhile achievement, useful skills, experience and contacts, sociability and fun or inclusion in the life of the organisation.
• Recognition: we recognise volunteers' contribution to the health and wellbeing of the community, public-sector organisations, and the social economy and to wider social objectives.

Commitment 5: Sensitively managing changes to services

Shared commitments:

• We will have mature and sometimes difficult conversations but will maintain relationships as we both work for the benefit of people and communities in Gateshead.
• We recognise that it may be necessary to end or change funding arrangements (for example, when people's or communities' needs change, when funding specific activities becomes unaffordable or when funding streams cease). Where changes are necessary, we will work together on understanding the effects, including the wider social impact.
• We will work together to ensure any changes are implemented respectfully.
• We will be aware of and seek to proactively mitigate any potential adverse impact on service users, communities and employees.
• We will engage in consultations to identify future gaps in provision or services.
• We will work together to try to ensure appropriate transition arrangements and/or temporary measures can be put in place to maintain services and/or buildings. However, we recognise that sometimes this may not be possible.

Public-sector commitments:

• We will consider the potential effects of any proposed change to services, including the wider social impact.
• We recognise the VCSE sector requires advance notice when changing or ending a contract or funding relationship or other support and will seek to work to a minimum notice period of 3 months (unless there are exceptional circumstances such as a breach of funding conditions). Many contractual conditions adhere to or, in some cases, exceed this.
• We will discuss the implications of any restrictions or changes to financial resources with the VCSE sector and consider comments before making final decisions. If a programme or service is encountering problems, our first response would be to work with the provider to support performance improvement.
• We will ensure standards of acceptable delivery are clearly communicated and are realistic, providing a reasonable period of time for implementation where improvement is needed.
• We will ensure all parties are up to date with information and changes by using appropriate communication and thinking about the best way to communicate.

VCSE-sector commitments:

• We will contribute positively and in a timely manner to reviews of services.
• We will advise funders on the social, environmental or economic impact of funding changes, and on ways to minimise their effects on people in vulnerable situations.
• We will highlight any difficulties we are experiencing with delivery as early as possible and seek constructive support.
• We will work creatively to minimise negative aspects of service change, as appropriate.