The Third Sector Partnership was formed in response to the changing landscape for the voluntary and social enterprise sectors with a vision to support, strengthen and inform the sector in Argyll and Bute. The Partnership sets out to ensure appropriate representation and to act as a conduit enabling the sector to be fully engaged with statutory partners, to have a voice at community planning and the ability to influence decisions affecting our communities.
The Third Sector Partnership brings together the infrastructure organisations of Argyll Voluntary Action, ABSEN – the Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network, and Islay & Jura CVS, as the interface for the third sector supporting voluntary and community organisations from the wider sector from our island, mainland, urban and remote communities and, between them covering a range of themes and interests.
This Partnership is recognised by the Community Planning Partnership as the single interface for the third sector across Argyll and Bute and supports the third sector fora across Argyll & Bute, enabling a mechanism for the exchange of views, information and development both for the sector and between the public, independent and third sectors.
Each of the core partners work in various ways to support the sector and also to deliver services as independent organisations. As such we share the same challenges of geography, funding issues and time and capacity issues as are common across our sector. We are required by Scottish Government to maintain EFQM validation at Committed to Excellence level, which was achieved during 2011 and to report on activities. We attend regional and national events and conferences as required and work hard to raise issues affecting Argyll and Bute at national level. On the news page we share information as changes affect our work or the sector and currently this includes some intensive work towards the national database – a further requirement of all interfaces.
The third sector forum for each area has a separate page on this site and all third sector organisations are welcome to attend – just contact a local office for details and times of the next meeting.
Information on local Third Sector Fora can be found below:
Oban, Lorn & Isles Third Sector Forum
