1. Voluntary Sector Vision Why? What does it do and say? What next? What next?

2. Why? Scottish Executive/Voluntary Sector Forum November 2004 Scottish Executive/Voluntary Sector Forum November 2004 Future challenges facing Scotland Future challenges facing Scotland Mark progress Mark progress Treasury’s Cross Cutting Review in 2002 Treasury’s Cross Cutting Review in 2002

3. What the sector said Be ambitious. Not just about delivery but how to tackle issues like climate change, civic participation and health improvement Be ambitious. Not just about delivery but how to tackle issues like climate change, civic participation and health improvement Deliver on commitments already made Deliver on commitments already made Recognise the current contribution of the sector Recognise the current contribution of the sector Moving from managing to developing relationships Moving from managing to developing relationships Relationship btw Executive, the sector and other statutory agencies is key Relationship btw Executive, the sector and other statutory agencies is key

4. What does the Vision do? Sets a 15 year vision for relationship against context of future challenges Sets a 15 year vision for relationship against context of future challenges Marks progress. Pinpoints what SE has done since devolution and identifies what more could be done Marks progress. Pinpoints what SE has done since devolution and identifies what more could be done Framework for more effective engagement Framework for more effective engagement

5. What does the Vision do? Focuses on the following roles of the sector: Focuses on the following roles of the sector: –a service delivery partner –A vehicle for building strong, vibrant communities –as partners for developing policy thinking –As a vehicle for promoting positive change in society and promoting innovation and new ideas that work

6. What does the Vision do? Identifies 3 priorities for action: Identifies 3 priorities for action: –Funding the sector – making sure practices are fair –Promoting the broad contribution –Building on best practice in engagement Commits the Executive to removing barriers Commits the Executive to removing barriers Clarifies the role of central government is to provide leadership Clarifies the role of central government is to provide leadership Sets up a Cross-Department Group led by senior officials Sets up a Cross-Department Group led by senior officials Tackle the short term problems that compromise our relationship Tackle the short term problems that compromise our relationship Growing the sector’s role in delivering services and informing policy Growing the sector’s role in delivering services and informing policy

7. Service Delivery Role Broader than core public service delivery Broader than core public service delivery –No artificial advantage - on merit –Where people mistrust state provision or where people have complex needs –Innovative i.e. biodegradable fuel, alternatives to custody not prisons, community recycling –Area of market failure i.e. credit unions, community transport Challenges include Challenges include –Statutory responsibility remains with government –Involvement in planning as well as delivery of services –Most services commissioned locally. Need to support local authorities to build partnerships locally –Growing awareness and developing the sector’s own capacity to deliver the services we all value Public service reform dialogue Public service reform dialogue

8. Policy development Unique perspective on user need and how services are working on ground i.e. homelessness policy Unique perspective on user need and how services are working on ground i.e. homelessness policy Provides alternative solutions to challenges i.e. health improvement and can creating a consensus for change i.e. the smoking ban Provides alternative solutions to challenges i.e. health improvement and can creating a consensus for change i.e. the smoking ban Integrate delivery into policy Integrate delivery into policy Independence and/advocacy role appreciated Independence and/advocacy role appreciated But where vision/mission is the same – focus on the best way to reach same objectives But where vision/mission is the same – focus on the best way to reach same objectives Removing barriers i.e. encouraging a range of organisations including smaller, frontline bodies Removing barriers i.e. encouraging a range of organisations including smaller, frontline bodies Building relationship between sector and government at every level Building relationship between sector and government at every level

9. Broader role - building strong communities Added value to services i.e. community transport, credit unions, youth projects Added value to services i.e. community transport, credit unions, youth projects Building networks and bringing people together i.e. mother and toddler groups Building networks and bringing people together i.e. mother and toddler groups Building engagement and accountability to communities i.e. tenants groups Building engagement and accountability to communities i.e. tenants groups But need to focus on the role of local organisations and the role of local public bodies But need to focus on the role of local organisations and the role of local public bodies Focusing on core policy development which will make most difference at the local level Focusing on core policy development which will make most difference at the local level

10. Broader role - agent of change Promoting positive change in society i.e. Make Poverty History Promoting positive change in society i.e. Make Poverty History Developing new ideas that work i.e. youth centres teaching literacy through gaming Developing new ideas that work i.e. youth centres teaching literacy through gaming Not about sector delivering on behalf of govt, but influencing, working with us to help set agenda Not about sector delivering on behalf of govt, but influencing, working with us to help set agenda Pilot projects which work well, how to replicate/upscale?? Pilot projects which work well, how to replicate/upscale?? Collaboration and partnership crucial to make change happen Collaboration and partnership crucial to make change happen

11. Next steps Cross Department Group met on 22 nd June Cross Department Group met on 22 nd June –Tasked with delivering action plan –Setting up mechanisms for engagement with sector Linking to Gordon Brown’s Treasury/Cabinet Review of Third Sector Linking to Gordon Brown’s Treasury/Cabinet Review of Third Sector Public service reform dialogue Public service reform dialogue

12. Conclusion …..what it means for the CDG Tackle the short term challenges Tackle the short term challenges Clarify links to Executive’s key priorities – what is the role of the sector? Clarify links to Executive’s key priorities – what is the role of the sector? Work to better enable local public sector bodies to work with sector Work to better enable local public sector bodies to work with sector Proactively finding opportunities to grow the sectors role Proactively finding opportunities to grow the sectors role But us language and terminology restricting us? But us language and terminology restricting us? Is this about cultural change & capacity of people to work together or hard targets? Is this about cultural change & capacity of people to work together or hard targets?

13. What does it mean for you?

14. Luska Jerdin Voluntary Issues and Social Inclusion Unit 0131 2445461 Luska.Jerdin@scotland.gsi.gov.uk