In October 2006 Moray Community Planning Partnership (MCPP) published an agreement between partners and the voluntary sector, known as the Moray Compact. The Compact sets out how they will all work in partnership for the benefit of the wider public good. Since the Moray Compact’s publication, understanding of the voluntary sector’s role has developed, with the sector seeing itself represented within various strategic partnerships.

The two main bodies representing the sector at a strategic level to date are Moray Voluntary Service Organisation (MVSO) and Volunteer Centre Moray (VCM). MVSO are acknowledged, by partners, organisations and service users, to be the primary focal point for general voluntary sector issues. VCM exists as an enabling service for volunteering to take place throughout Moray. There is a perceived expectation that MVSO and VCM are the authoritative voice of the sector. However, both organisations are only two voices which are not always best placed to represent the whole sector on every issue.

The weakness in the current arrangements therefore stems from the fact that there exists a wide range of voluntary sector viewpoints that are not adequately expressed. A huge majority of current arrangements are ad-hoc and do not best represent the sector. Conscious of this, early 2008 saw MVSO and VCM developing in-house ideas for forums involving a wide range of stakeholder representatives.

The introduction in November 2007 of the Concordat between Scottish Government and local authorities has brought a new impetus to joint working between local voluntary infrastructure organisations. The Concordat and the associated development of Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs), places responsibility for decisions on local delivery clearly at the local level.

The effective contribution of the voluntary sector to the delivery and design of local services will require a local infrastructure to support connection and communication with Community Planning and Council infrastructure. By March 2011 it is expected that there will be a coherent, fit for purpose, local infrastructure that meets the needs of Local Authorities, Community Planning Partnerships (CPP) and the Voluntary Sector, which has been developed in partnership.).

Following consultation with the voluntary sector and other stakeholders between Summer 2008 & June 2009, the Boards of Moray Voluntary Service Organisation (MVSO) and The Volunteer Centre Moray (VCM), agreed on a VSPM model which gained Moray CPP approval in May 2009.