What with ongoing funding uncertainty and major council reorganisation, there’s lots to talk about. The local Voluntary Sector Forum offers third sectors groups a chance to join together to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead (writes EVOC’s June Dickson):
EVOC works directly with Voluntary Sector Forums. These groups link to the Neighbourhood Partnerships, & facilitate communication and planning among the voluntary sector organisations that operate within each local area. They fit within and feed back into the Neighbourhood Partnership structure.
However, the Forums are invaluable to third Sector representatives as they also:
- Provide a Forum for Peer Support
- Share issues of concern, information and knowledge
- Take a collective approach to challenges and opportunities
- Promote Third Sector Engagement with Neighbourhood Partnerships
and Community Planning
An example of how the Forums are a vehicle to work co-productively with partners, especially in terms of Community Planning, has been the schedule of meetings through the various Forums in Edinburgh where the CEC Transformation Team have attended and presented the Plans for Transformation and Localities to Third Sector organisations within each Locality. These meetings have proved invaluable in terms of informing the Third Sector and other partners, as to the changes being planned whilst also providing a consultation opportunity with Third Sector and a line of communication providing feedback on concerns and challenges as well as opportunities.
The Agendas of each Forum are driven and decided by Forum members to ensure topics pertinent to a particular area are being addressed and discussed.
Find upcoming meeting dates and meeting papers for the Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum page:
If you require any further information please contact June Dickson: june.dickson@evoc.org.uk or call 0131 555 9114.
