Month: May 2024

TSI Scotland Network Conference, 7 and 8 May 2024, Edinburgh

Staff from Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) across Scotland – from the islands to the Borders and every bit in between – will come together on 7 and 8 May for our first face to face conference for a number of years. 

The conference has been planned based on feedback from staff themselves and TSIs are coming together at one of the most challenging times that many of us can ever remember for the voluntary and community sector, for volunteering and for social enterprise.  

We’ve had over 14 years of austerity; the pandemic has changed many lives and communities irrevocably.  And now we face significant cost-of living-challenges which profoundly affect community groups and charities on the front line.  

In coming together for this conference, TSIs will take stock of where we are now, but also begin to think about how the TSI Network and TSIs respond to developing trends, policy changes and the social and economic challenges facing Scotland.   And, as we look ahead to future elections, how do we ensure that the community and voluntary sector is being heard?

We look forward to welcoming some amazing and influential keynote speakers and showcasing some of the talented and experienced staff from across the Network.  

TSI Conference Steering Group

TSI-Scotland-Network-Conference-May-2024-Delegate-Pack

Alan Webb, Chief Officer of Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, outlines the distractions being created as we await a new First Minister for Scotland, reiterating the need for progress on fair funding and respect for the many thousands of community groups and enterprises which mitigate poverty and support health and wellbeing.

The pending arrival of a new First Minister at Bute House has caught the attention of media everywhere, many analysts keen to tell us about the potential change, or otherwise, that’s to come.  It’s certainly distracted from the many crises facing our country, our world.  For most of my colleagues in the third sector, it has landed as a distraction from their important work or a further bump in the road on our route to being recognised and valued as a sector.

At a time when many organisations are still waiting for their promised investment for the new financial year,  the idea of a review or reset on the asks of the third sector across Scotland is unimaginable.  It would fail the thousands who work and volunteer in the sector, and the millions of people across the country who benefit from a strong sector in their community.

Today, and every day, charities, community and voluntary groups and enterprises – the vast majority locally based and run – are focussed on their impactful work; mitigating the worst of poverty and inequalities, supporting community health and wellbeing, creating opportunities for connection, building skills and readiness for work, supporting recovery, promoting creativity and the arts, developing our social economy and helping our public services.

All are giving hope, creating purpose. Many are filling gaps and navigating poor policy.

Whilst the new First Minister may be confirmed sooner than we thought, and as policy priorities and Cabinet posts are settled, our asks remain the same:

• A commitment to our Fair Funding Charter – strategic, sustainable, multi-year and accessible investment in our sector;
• Recognition of our impact and value – a £multi-billion sector, employing many thousands of people and reaching millions across Scotland should be involved in the big decisions facing our communities;
• A direct meeting with Third Sector Interfaces to hear first-hand about local needs, work and impact.

Find out more about TSI Scotland Network asks in our Pre Budget brief here.  Alan Webb is Chief Officer of Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway.