The Compass Board met on January 22nd for another hybrid meeting with one staff member and one board member joining online. The meeting focused on Compass’ three pronged strategy, our political positioning, the upcoming budget for the new financial year and the strengthening of board/staff collaboration.

Our Political Positioning

While board members raised concerns about the risks of attaching ourselves too much to Andy Burnham, it was agreed we would continue to engage with him carefully. It was emphasised that is more important than ever for Compass to highlight its commitment to pluralism and to maintain our relationships with the Greens, Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru. It was also agreed that we would review this political positioning at the next meeting in March given the fast-paced nature of events.

Strategy 

The Board endorsed the three-pronged strategic plan that was presented to members last year that covers the ‘New Popular Front’ project to build power in civil society through collaboration and deep ideas work, building a progressive alliance to win at the ballot box and working within progressive parties. The board agreed that this approach clearly situates Compass as broader than any one issue or leader and sticks to our core values and expertise. It was acknowledged that the Labour-facing network Mainstream was close to Compass but had separate governance structures and leadership development more broadly was affirmed as important but limited by capacity. The Board agreed that Compass’s core role is convening expertise and shaping narrative coherence rather than producing detailed policy.

‘Popular Front’ Project

The Popular Front was welcomed as a cross-movement project focused on fair taxes, fair media, and fair democracy. The Board supported the six-month plan and recognised the value of its tight, narrative-led framing. Some concern was expressed about ensuring the initiative resonates with everyday issues, and some board members stressed the importance of accessible storytelling, which has also been raised as Compass members. The project was seen as capable of providing a unifying national narrative and supporting civil society actors during an election period.

Finances and Budget

Compass Treasurer, Mark Cooke reported a strong surplus for the year. The Board raised the reserves target and agreed the draft budget for next year with an emphasis on flexibility depending on the political landscape where possible. A full 2026–27 budget will be presented at the March meeting.

Board/staff Relationship

The Board approved sharing their recent skills survey results with staff, who identified several areas where support would be useful, including Labour strategy, campaigns, budgeting, media, fundraising, and governance. Deputy Director, Lena will follow up to match these areas of expertise with staff and confirm next steps.