The South West RDA works to continually develop its relationship with the region's voluntary and community sector, recognising the value, independence, diversity and economic contribution that a thriving VCS can bring. We also acknowledge that the ability and right of people to take voluntary action for social benefit are fundamental to the well-being of society.

Close links with the South West Forum (SWF), the umbrella group for the South West VCS, ensures consideration is given to the sector when the South West RDA makes decisions that may affect it. We strive to continually improve this relationship to ensure sustained, meaningful and strategic sector engagement. 
 
 
 

The South West Regional Compact

Working in collaboration with SWF, Black South West Network (BSWN), Government Office for the South West (GOSW), South West Regional Assembly (SWRA), South West Local Government Association (SW LGA), Natural England, Police Constabularies and Primary Care Trusts, the RDA has participated in the development of the South West Regional Compact: Final (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 143.85kb). Two versions of the Compact Executive Summary can be found below:

• Compact Executive Summary 1 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 84.06kb)
• Compact Executive Summary 2 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 87.68kb)

Compacts are a set of guiding principles which aim to improve working relationships between partner organisations. Perception has suggested that these relationships are often good at an individual level, but patchy at an organisational level. Compacts are designed to address this. They have been developed over a number of years, with the national version published in 1998. They are not contractual, partner organisations sign up to an agreed way of working.

In November 2006, the South West Regional Compact won a commendation at the Compact Annual Meeting for excellence achieved through Compact proofing and use. This was in part was thanks to the efforts of the South West RDA to refer to the Compact when reviewing the Regional Economic Strategy. In November 2006, the South West Regional Compact won a commendation at the Compact Annual Meeting for excellence achieved through Compact proofing and use. This was in part thanks to the efforts of the South West RDA to refer to the Compact when reviewing the Regional Economic Strategy. The commendation, along with others awarded at the time, can be found on the Compact website.

Now also available are the Regional Commentary on the National Compact Codes of Good Practice and the Regional Compact Annual Review 2006.

ChangeUp and the Infrastructure Strategy South West

In response to HM Treasury's 2002 Cross Cutting Review of the Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Service Delivery, the Home Office published ChangeUp, a cross-Government framework on capacity building and infrastructure in the VCS, developed in partnership with the sector.  
 
In the South West region, the VCS with key public sector partners, including the SWRDA, have agreed that a regional strategic approach should be taken forward through the development and implementation of the Infrastructure Strategy South West. 
 
The main purpose of the Strategy is to provide a clear strategic framework for the development of VCS infrastructure in the South West region, and it is based upon six Strategic Priorities: 

• Perfomance improvement
• Developing a highly effective workforce
• Information communications technology
• Governance
• Recruiting and developing volunteers
• Financing voluntary and community sector activity