‘I hope that you will be with us as we begin drafting the pages of a new chapter‘
Edinburgh’s Third Sector is vital to the wellbeing of our city and communities. However, sustainability is significantly challenged by funding cuts, rising demands and increasing operating costs.
Across the Sector, organisations and groups are making painful choices to survive and thrive. As a partner in Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface, EVOC is here to help you manage these challenges.
Since we announced that EVOC was undertaking a strategic review in June 2024, we have been working hard to secure the long-term future of the organisation. Like other groups and organisations in our sector, we’ve had to make some really difficult decisions to rapidly reduce EVOC’s running costs. We’ve also recognised the need to adapt our strategic approach in response to the needs of the sector in Edinburgh.
We’ve taken the time to get this right. Our focus has been to ensure EVOC can remain relevant and resilient to meet Sector needs. It has been a complicated and humbling process. We have found it difficult. We have also learned a lot about managing challenging change. We are happy to learn more from you and share learning as we take our next steps.
Managing our recent change has also meant that we have not been as active as usual over the summer and we are sorry for this. Thank you for your support, understanding and constructive challenge. I would like to pay particular tribute to the professionalism shown by the EVOC team. Unfortunately, the change means that some valued friends and colleagues have left or will be leaving EVOC.
Looking Ahead
Our enthusiastic and talented team are already hard at work delivering on our current commitments and looking forward to continuing to work with you our members, partners and colleagues. In the coming days, we will be reaching out to reconnect with those of you whom we work with directly.
Sustaining a strong sector for a strong city is vital. We recognise the challenges being experienced by members and partners now, but also the need to shape the future collaboratively to better support the sector. So, across the autumn and winter, we will be progressing engagement with the sector on your needs, on a vision for our shared future, and on the role EVOC and the TSI can play to make this happen.
This engagement will shape the new EVOC Strategy, which we aim to launch in early 2025. We will also begin recruitment for a new Chief Executive to help guide the future of the organisation, working in partnership with our members, the sector and city partners. We have already started the search for new Trustees to strengthen our Board and will continue that into the autumn.
We are excited to announce some immediate priorities to support you. Expressions of Interest are already open for the Edinburgh Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
Our annual Meet the Funders event will be back in November. Plans are in place for a follow-up to last year’s New Scots Gathering in December. Registrations will be open in October for both events.
We also continue to deliver a year-round programme of training and development opportunities. Our team is here to offer support on a range of issues from governance advice to fundraising, and really look forward to continuing working with you.
As we embark on a real period of change for EVOC, we are ambitious in our role as a strong and resilient advocate for our sector. I hope that you will be with us as we begin drafting the pages of a new chapter.
Best wishes
Claire
Claire Ritchie (Interim Chief Executive)
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