Guidance

Local Civil Society Covenant resources

Resources for local civil society and public organisations to help raise awareness and understanding of the Civil Society Covenant.

• From: Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Published: 23 March 2026

Documents

The Civil Society Covenant - overview

HTML

The Civil Society Covenant - fact sheet

HTML

The Civil Society Covenant - slides

MS PowerPoint Presentation, 1.65 MB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@dcms.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The Civil Society Covenant is a principles-based arrangement for re-setting the relationship between the UK Government and civil society.  It was published by the Prime Minister in July 2025.

The Covenant is a tool to support important conversations about partnerships and to strengthen existing good work. The government hopes that adoption of the Covenant’s principles can help organisations to deliver policies and services that respond to community needs and provide effective support for people.

Effective partnership working requires a long-term commitment from all parties. The Covenant serves as a tool to start important conversations about partnership and to support and strengthen existing good work.

These resources are designed to be used by any person or organisation who wants to increase awareness and understanding of the Civil Society Covenant in their local area. This includes:

• strategic authorities and English local authorities
• wider public sector bodies working with civil society including NHS organisations and partnerships, such as Integrated Care Systems, and the criminal justice system
• civil society includes charities, social enterprises, co-operatives, trade unions, faith organisations, informal community groups, philanthropists and social investors
• UK government departments, including executive agencies and arms-length bodies

Each resource is a standalone product and can be read on its own, or together with the other assets on this page.

Overview

• This short overview provides a high level snapshot of key information about the Covenant.

Fact sheet

• The fact sheet provides a more detailed summary of the Covenant, why it matters to your organisation, and its development.

Slides 

• This slide pack is for local organisations to use in conversations internally and externally, when thinking about their partnership working practices.
• Please use this slide pack to learn about, discuss, and share information about the Covenant.

Published 23 March 2026