The Dover and District Compact was initially discussed at a Compact Involvement Event in June 2003. A steering group was subsequently formed from those expressing an interest and work began on producing a Compact to create a new approach to working together.
Representatives on this steering group were from: Age Concern Deal; Age Concern Dover; Arthritis Care; Christians Together; Connexions; Deal Centre for the Retired; Disability Information Services in Kent (DISK); Dover Access & Mobility; Dover Carers Support; Dover Counselling Centre; Dover District Council; Dover District Volunteering Centre; East Kent Coastal Teaching Primary Care Trust; East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust; Home Start Dover District; Kent Refugee Action Network and Kent County Council Social Services (advisor) and Mid & South East Kent CVS.
After extensive consultation, the Compact agreement was launched on 12th September 2005 at an event in St. Mary's Parish Centre, Dover. Guest speakers were Paul Barasi from the National Compact Working Group, Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council and David Rains from HomeStart Dover District.
Paul Barasi's enthusiastic presentation explained the power of a Local Compact and looked at ideas on how to use the Compact and successes in other areas. Compact seen as “the brand for partnership working at it's best” and “once you know how: the possibilities are endless!”
Congratulations on launching the Dover Compact - Presentation by Paul Barasi (PPS , 1,349kb)
Congratulations on launching the Dover Compact - Presentation by Paul Barasi (PDF, 479KB)
Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council and David Rains from HomeStart, Dover also spoke about the Compact from both sectors perspective:
“DDC and other statutory bodies are committed to developing and implementing the Compact... By working together we can improve decision-making, services and community engagement.” (Cllr Paul Watkins)
"If we all use this opportunity to develop a new way of working together and if all organisations are truly committed, the Compact will deliver real benefits for everyone in the Dover District! This could be the start of true equal partnership working!" (Dave Rains, HomeStart)
Participants at the launch could see potential for the future positive impact of the Compact for working "better together", and a Local Relations Poll revealed that 97.4% expected relations to improve with the Compact (assuming there is good Compact implementation).
THE DOVER AND DISTRICT COMPACT:
“A living document which improves the way in which the partners work together”
“We achieve more for the Community by working together”
