As you’ll know work has been ongoing for over a year to establish Glasgow’s Third Sector Interface which the Scottish Government have requested be established in all Local Authority area’s in Scotland.
The development and establishment of this new structure in Glasgow is now complete and the result is a Third Sector Interface which brings together GCVS, Volunteer Centre, and Social Enterprise to jointly co-ordinate and deliver services and support for the Third Sector in Glasgow.
In addition to the Interface a Third Sector Forum has been developed.
The Third Sector Forum has been established to connect the Third Sector to Community Planning, and also to other key public sector partners.
The Third Sector Forum represents all of the third sector organisations in Glasgow and there will be opportunities throughout the year for organisations to participate and make their views known and have their voices heard.
In order to get the Third Sector Forum moving an Executive Committee has been established. The Executive Committee members are drawn from the key representative organisations in the City including: GCVS, Faith in Communities Scotland, Social Enterprise Network, Social Care Ideas Factory, Glasgow Homelessness Network, West of Scotland Seniors Forum and the City Wide Voluntary Sector Networks.
I’m currently acting as representative for the City Wide Voluntary Sector Network.
The Executive Committee has now met twice and below is quick summary of the main points of interest so far.
Third Sector Representation on Community Planning structures
The Third Sector is now represented at and participating in the GCPP Strategic Group and CPP Executive Group.
- Martin Johnstone (Faith in Communities) and Susan Aktemel (Impact Acts) are the representative and deputy on the GCPP Strategic Group.
- Gerry Higgins (CEiS) and Tressa Burke (Glasgow Disability Alliance) are the representative and deputy on the GCPP Executive Group.
All have attended their first meeting.
In addition, it has been agreed that monthly meetings will now take place between GCC Partnerships Manager (Shaw Anderson) and Martin, Gerry and Liz McEntee (GCVS). This will ensure regular dialogue between the Council/CPP and the Sector.
Reshaping Care for Older People
Members of the Third Sector Forum Executive Committee and a number of other key Third Sector organisations have been involved in the Reshaping Care for Older People agenda in Glasgow. This group has worked extremely hard over the last few months to ensure that sector are playing an active role in these discussions, and it is now hoped that a third sector organisation will be chair the group on Community Capacity Building. More information on this will be forwarded when available.
Third Sector Forum Launch Event
It is hoped to hold a launch event for the Forum towards the end of October or early November more details to follow.
Changes to Integrated Grants Fund
At the Executive Committee meeting in June, the Council delivered a presentation to the group on proposed changes to the Integrated Grants Fund. The presentation is attached.
There will be further communication from GCC to all projects on this and how they will be affected (what priority group they will be etc). They hope to be able to do this by the end of the summer, but this will depend on the priorities being agreed etc
Following the presentation and discussion it was agreed that a small group from the Third Sector Forum Executive Committee will have further meetings with GCC/CPP about this new process, with particular emphasis on monitoring and appropriate and proper equalities impact monitoring.