The Third Sector Partnership Council in Wales: Clear mechanisms for dialogue between all parties Barbara Locke, National Development Manager, CSV RSVP Wales

The Statutory Position The Government of Wales Act 2006 requires the Welsh Assembly Government to have a Third Sector Scheme setting out how WAG will, in the exercise of its functions, promote the interests of relevant voluntary organisations.

The Third Sector Scheme sets out:- the general principles of the relationship between the WAG and the Third Sector arrangements for working in partnership through mechanisms for dialogue and information sharing consultation procedures that enable the sector to play a role in policy development and policy change. a policy for promoting volunteering a policy for promoting community development

Formal mechanisms for dialogue The partnership working aspect of the scheme provides two formal mechanisms for dialogue between the third sector and government: 1.Third Sector Partnership Council 2.Bi-annual meetings between representatives of the third sector and each Assembly Government Minister.

Third Sector Partnership Council (TSPC) TSPC is key mechanism for maintaining regular dialogue between the Third Sector and the Welsh Assembly Government Main purpose of TSPC is to make sure that the principles set out in the Voluntary Sector Scheme are put into practice TSPC provides an opportunity for the sector to raise key issues of interest or concern. TSPC does not discuss issues that relate to only one area of interest As a national body, TSPC is deals only with issues that affect all of Wales.

Third Sector Partnership Council (TSPC):- is made up of 25 representatives of third sector networks in 25 key areas of third sector activity plus 3 representatives from Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) meets four times a year in different venues across Wales is always chaired by a Minister (currently the Minister for Social Justice & Local Government, Carl Sargeant AM)

TSPC- Third Sector ‘key area’categories Advice and Advocacy Animal Welfare Arts, Culture and Heritage Asylum Seekers & Refugees Children & Families Community Community Justice Disability Education & Training Employment Environment Ethnic Minorities Gender Health & Social Care Housing Intermediaries International Older People Religion Sexuality Social Enterprise Sport & Recreation Volunteering Welsh Language Youth WCVA

Election of the 25 Third Sector members Elections every two years, facilitated by WCVA through a ballot of its membership All members are invited to nominate a network to represent the sector under each of the 25 categories of interest. If more than one network is nominated, WCVA negotiates with interested parties to achieve an acceptable solution or facilitates a ballot The network will then decide who is to be its representative at the TSPC, and who will act as deputy representative.

Ministerial meetings Twice yearly meetings between each Assembly Minister and representatives of the relevant Third Sector Networks to :- review the operation of the Voluntary Sector scheme level of consultation and discussion that has taken place between the sector and the Assembly government. review past activity anticipate forthcoming issues consider resources One of the meetings is tied in with the Assembly budget planning round and focuses on funding issues.

Funding and compliance sub-committee A Funding and compliance sub-committee has been established to advise on the implementation, monitoring and review of the Voluntary Sector scheme investigate any breaches or complaints. The membership is drawn from the TSPC and consists of both Third Sector and Assembly members.

A representative’s perspective Representative for ‘Volunteering’ interest group for 18 months; Chair of Wales Volunteering Policy Network (31 organisations) Attended ministerial meetings (eg Minister for Heritage on Welsh language measure) Direct influence and setting of agenda Action on recession (eg BLF quick response fund) Pursuit of WEFO funding issues Code of Practice on funding (LAs must “adopt or justify”) Review of funding of third sector (eg ‘Funded Nationally, Delivered Locally’) Joint paper on review of public services Monitoring of third sector action plan Future of TSPC