Partnerships between the voluntary and public sectors were celebrated this week as the winners of the London Compact Awards 2009 were announced.

The awards ceremony took place at Sadler’s Wells and celebrate the achievements of Compacts, which are agreements aimed at helping develop better services for local communities by encouraging the different sectors to work together.

Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell (pictured above) said: “The need for councils, other public sector bodies and the private sector to work with voluntary groups is more important than ever in the current financial climate. Compacts help enable these groups to combine their efforts more effectively to achieve the best results for Londoners in need.

“London Councils is delighted to be involved in the London Compact Awards and to see so many of London’s local authorities and their community partners being recognised for the great work they are doing together. We wish all the winners our most sincere congratulations. ”

The full list of winners of the London Compact Award 2009:

• Islington Change Up and Compact Consortium

Islington Change Up and Compact Consortium includes representatives from various partners in Islington including London Borough of Islington, NHS Islington, the Met Police and others, together with their voluntary sector colleagues. The consortium has revised the Compact and in particular has focused the new Compact on the importance of equalities in helping the most disadvantaged communities to benefit through partnership working.

• Southwark Financial Inclusion Forum

The Southwark Financial Inclusion Forum aims to ensure that local residents have access to high quality debt advice, developing financial education to help local residents avoid financial crisis, and helping to remove barriers to returning to education, training and employment. Of particular significance is the involvement of LB Southwark’s Housing Department working through the Forum to enable residents to access more appropriate credit facilities.

• Neil Collins – Individual Champion of the Compact

Neil was nominated for a Compact Award by Voluntary Action Waltham Forest and NHS Waltham Forest. In the 40 years he has been a resident and community activist he has been at the heart of much of the work of the voluntary sector, serving on numerous committees and partnerships. He is a campaigner for health well being and social care and a powerful advocate for the need to address issues around poverty, homelessness, crime and unemployment.

• Haringey and Enfield Communities Road Safety Project

This project aims to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads because they live in areas of deprivation or come from Black African and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. The project helps find ways to increase the road safety knowledge of people from a range of different cultures, and works closely with local mosques and Islamic organisations, for example an Islamic Calendar was produced showing key road safety facts, messages and images in different languages spoken by the communities.

The Merton Compact, Hounslow Council Road Safety Team and Richmond CVS and LB Richmond Children’s Services and Culture Department were all Highly Commended.