Fife Third Sector Strategy Group

Information

Our Aims

The Third Sector Strategy Group is a group of nineteen representatives drawn from the Third Sector, covering a range of thematic interests and also having links to other Voluntary Sector and multi-agency forums and networks. The members are also diverse in terms of the type of organisations they come from - some are from smaller, locally-based groups and others from large Fife-wide charities. The aims of the group are:

To strengthen the connections between the Third Sector and Community Planning - enhancing partnership working
To provide a mandate and a two-way communication channel for those playing a representative role on behalf of the sector
To advocate and campaign on behalf of the sector and to grow the sector's influence and profile

See the Strategy Group outline document for further background on the role of the group.

Definitions

Third Sector is a collective term used to describe organisations such as Registered Charities, Voluntary Organisations, Social Enterprises and Community Groups and Associations. These organisations have certain key features in common:

Governed by unpaid (voluntary) Boards or Committees
Non-profit distributing (any profits made are re-invested into the organisation)
Social aims

Volunteering is central to the ethos of the Third Sector - engaging Volunteers is a key means for Third Sector organisations to maintain their links to their community (geographic or of interest) and Volunteer effort is fundamental to the delivery of a huge range of activities and services. However, the Third Sector in Scotland also employs thousands of paid staff members with a wide range of professional qualifications and Volunteering takes place in other settings outwith the Third Sector - so while Volunteering and the Third Sector are closely linked, they do have separate identities.

Third Sector Interface (TSI) is the term being used for the 32 bodies across Scotland providing development services to Volunteers and Third Sector organisations, whilst ensuring good Third Sector links into Community Planning. In some areas (such as Fife) the Interface will be one organisation, in others it is a partnership arrangement between different bodies. The Scottish Government now refers only to Interfaces and no longer uses the terms Volunteer Centres or Councils for Voluntary Service.

Creation of the Strategy Group

The idea of the Third Sector Strategy Group was first raised within the discussions that have taken place between representatives from CVS Fife, Volunteer Centre Fife, VONEF and the Social Enterprise Network about the formation of the Third Sector Interface for Fife. Other stakeholders were also involved in some of these discussions in the early stages, and representatives from CVS Fife and Citizens Advice & Rights Fife drew up the initial scoping paper.

Following agreement amongst Interface stakeholders, it was decided to consult on proposals for forming the Strategy Group at a CVS Fife event held in September 2011 - Future Directions for the Third Sector. At this event, attended by over 60 representatives from voluntary, community, social enterprise and charitable organisations, delegates provided the following guidelines in relation to forming the Strategy group:

Role Profile needed for members of the group
- Needs to be clear that members are there to represent the wider interests of the Third Sector, not simply their own organisation
Important to get a spread of thematic interests covered but more important to have members who will commit to the group and be prepared to contribute
If possible try to have people who are drawn from smaller, more-locally based organisations and larger Fife-wide groups
Connections in to Fife Partnership are important

At the event, delegates were asked to complete an Expression of Interest Form if they would consider joining the group. Thereafter, an online survey was issued to all the main contacts for organisations held by CVS Fife also seeking Expressions of Interest. Over forty expressions of interest were received in total.

Carole Patrick, Acting Manager
CVS Fife, 23-27 Randolph Street, Buckhaven, Fife KY8 1AT
T: 01592 567001 - E: carole.patrick@cvsfife.org

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