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The purpose of this paper is to focus on compacts and their effectiveness in ensuring that non‐government organisations (NGOs) are able to remain independent, critical checks on government.

The experiences of the English Compact and the Working Together for NSW agreement, created in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The analysis of Working Together relies upon interviews conducted with key informants involved in its negotiation. Using these cases the effectiveness of compacts in supporting NGOs, particularly in their role as advocates is examined.

The paper finds that, despite the similarities between the English Compact and Working Together, the NSW government has not produced similar supporting structures or mechanisms and that no champion exists to drive it within government. As a result, awareness of Working Together is low in both the NSW government and among NGOs, and, unlike the English Compact, it has had little effect on the ability of NGOs to advocate independently. As such, it is suggested that compacts do not offer long‐term solutions to the difficulties in the relationship between governments and NGOs. This is because their efficacy is reliant upon the support of government.

The list of interviewees is by no means exhaustive. Despite numerous attempts, the authors were unable to obtain interviews from a number of figures approached from middle‐level departments within the NSW state government.

The interviews are original and new to the literature on compacts. This interview material is especially useful as little literature exists that analyses the Working Together for NSW agreement.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a controversial psychiatric diagnosis. Despite an increasing amount of research looking at the BPD diagnosis when applied to young people, there is limited understanding of the key viewpoints of mental health professionals working with young people in the UK. This research aims to use Q-methodology to contribute to understanding the multiple views of the diagnosis.

Q-statements about views of the BPD diagnosis were selected from relevant journals, internet sites and social media platforms and were validated by a Q-methodology research group, the research supervisors and an online group of individuals with BPD. Q-sorts were then used to explore the viewpoints of 27 mental health professionals in the UK working with children and adolescents. Analysis of the data was completed using Q-methodology analysis software.

Three main factors emerged from the data, explaining 66% of the variance. Of the 27 participants, 24 loaded onto these three factors, defined as: harmful not helpful; language and optimism; and caution and specialist services. Three Q-sorts did not load significantly onto any one factor.

There appears to be at least three ways of understanding the BPD diagnosis for young people. It may be useful for clinicians to consider and share their own viewpoint, be open to difference and formulate difficulties from an individual perspective.

This paper describes the findings from 89 focus groups held with 505 young (13‐39 years) and middle‐aged (40‐59 years) adults in the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Slovakia and Sweden.There were many similarities across all countries and most differences were between the different age groups, rather than the different countries. Five major themes were identified from the comparative data: views of dignity; old age and ageing; views of older people's lives; across the generations and adding dignity to older people's lives. Many of these findings confirmed those of the focus groups with older people and health and social care professionals. Dignity was important to people of all ages but particularly to older people. Being treated as an individual was critical for the maintenance of dignity. In the participating countries older people were generally treated negatively and undervalued and seen as vulnerable, second‐class citizens.Old age was perceived as a time of physical and mental deterioration, poverty and dependency. Intergenerational activities were important for both individual self‐esteem and the ability to participate fully in society. Suggestions for enhancing dignity included greater public awareness about the dignity of older people and about existing care and support services for them. Health policies should tackle ageism in service provision and the development of standards in health and social care for older people could do much to improve dignity.

This study explores the relevance of education in reducing poverty in Egypt's rural and urban areas.

The study applies the logistic model to Analyse Household Income Expenditure survey data.

The results indicate that spending on education in urban regions is higher than in rural areas. Second, the percentage of illiteracy in rural areas is higher than in urban areas. Third, educational spending is significantly inversely related to poverty across various geographical regions of Egypt. Fourthly, the more educated the head of the family is, the less likely the family is to fall into poverty. Finally, the potential for education to alleviate poverty in rural areas is more significant than in urban regions of Egypt.

The suggested approach should be applied on data from different countries.

The paper suggests worthy policy recommendations for policy makers in Egypt.

Results of the study worthy as it emphases the role of education in the society.

Based on microdata analysis, the study compares the potential role of education in combating poverty in Egypt's urban and rural areas. Thus, it can be used as a decision-support tool for policymakers.