Welcome
We are a group of management consultants committed to making a significant impact on the management and governance of civil society organisations and their funders.
We aim to make a substantial and sustainable improvement in the performance of these organisations by:
- Delivering top quality consultancy
- Combining the culture and values of the sector with leading edge business skills
- Developing and disseminating innovative and effective management practices
- Making significant contributions to policy development for the sector.
Over the last 25 years we have worked with more than 800 organisations and built a reputation for clarity and quality. We have worked with every type of civil society organisation and we focus particularly on:
- Voluntary organisations
- Housing and care organisations
- International development organisations
- Government departments and Non Departmental Public Bodies
- Foundations and funders
- Companies working with civil society organisations.
All our assignments are tailor made to suit each client's circumstances.
When you have had a look at this site, please do give us a call on 01628 478561 for a preliminary conversation about how we might be able to assist your organisation.
News
Compass Partnership and City Business School survey charity governance
Compass and Cass - City Business School have joined forces to study the governance practices of the largest 500 charities in the UK, measured by total income. The research will help boards to compare their structures, processes and behaviours with other large charities.
These organisations have incomes ranging from £15m to almost £700m and work in many fields including social welfare, education, health, research, religion, disability and international development.
The survey will enable participants to compare their arrangements with other large charities and with best practices in governing large civil society organisations.
We already have 160 responses, many from large and well known charities. Following requests for an extension the final closing date for receipt of completed questionnaires is Jan 3rd 2012.
If you work for or are part of the governance of a top 500 organisation, please encourage your Chair or Chief Executive to complete the questionnaire we have sent them.
Updated board performance assessment
The Compass Partnership Board Self Assessment has been up-dated to make it consistent with the new Code of Governance for the voluntary sector. Tried and tested on a range of many organisations, the assessment covers how well the board is delivering key governance functions, performance of the board as a team, individual performance, the performance of committees and personal feedback from other board members
British Waterways to become Canals & Rivers Trust
The Coalition government has agreed that British Waterways should become a charity. This follows a report prepared in 2010 jointly by Compass Partnership, BWB Solicitors and THINK Consulting which set out the case for the move and proposed a new governance structure. Allowing for due diligence, the Government intends to have the new charity up and running by April 2012.
Australian Edition of Managing Without Profit
A new edition of Mike Hudson's bestselling book Managing Without Profit has been written for nonprofit organisations in Australia. Jointly developed with Australian consultant Lyla Rogan, the book describes Australian civil society, relates governance and management theory to Australian organisations and includes many new case studies from Australia.
Click here to obtain a copy.....
Welfare of the Armed Forces Community
The Royal British Legion has published new research into the welfare of the neediest groups of current and ex-service people. The research conducted by Compass Partnership involved in-depth interviews with over 150 people including those who have been seriously injured, family members of those who have died and Ghurkhas who have been discharged.
It found that whilst most receive support from the services, charities and the NHS, there are significant gaps particularly in long term support both for service personnel and family members. There are important barriers to seeking support including pride and an assumption that other people may be more deserving of support.
Compass supports children's education in Vanuatu
Compass is supporting the education of secondary school children in the Pacific island state of Vanuatu. Mike Hudson and his wife Diana spent the summer of 2010 at St Patrick's College investigating how an independent school in the UK could develop its relationship with the college and provide voluntary support.
Since parents have to pay for secondary education in Vanuatu, they recommended that a bursary scheme be established to subsidise fees of bright and hard working children who would otherwise have to end their education. Over £10,000 has been raised for ten bursaries and the target is to increase this to 20.
A powerful coalition chaired by Compass
A new strategy for improving farm animal welfare has been published by the Farm Animal Welfare Forum - a coalition involving seven organisations including Compassion in World Farming, the RSPCA, The Co-op Food and the University of Bristol Veterinary School. It sets out key actions that policymakers, the food business and consumers can take to improve the welfare of chickens, pigs and cows. Chaired by Compass Partnership, Forum members are committed to working together to achieve the ambitious targets.