THE Compact Working Group is hoping to hear the views of people who run local community groups on a draft document entitled "Compact Community Group Code of Good Practice."

The draft Community Code will be the biggest consultation mounted since the original compact was signed in 1998 and will aim to:

promote and give long overdue recognition to the important work of the community sector, including faith based, refugee and asylum seeker groups, whatever their size.

help secure funding and support for community groups.

create a better framework for both community groups and the Government to work in partnership.

There will be an opportunity to discuss the Code at a free seminar at NVCO in London on September 19, 2001 at 2pm.