In 1998, the Government published a national Compact called Getting It Right Together, which was drawn up with representatives of national voluntary and community organisations. The Government recommended that local Councils should develop their own versions of this national agreement, incorporating local needs and areas of concern.

VAL and Lewisham Council agreed to develop a Compact for Lewisham, and formed a steering group in September 1999 to manage and develop the Compact process. Two years of consultation - open events, questionnaires, working groups and detailed interviews with nearly 100 organisations and individuals from the Council and the voluntary and community sector - followed before the Compact document was published on 17 July 2001.

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