Borders Third Sector Partnership
The Borders Third Sector Partnership is made up of four organisations in the Scottish Borders
- The Bridge (CVS)
- Berwickshire Association for Voluntary Services (BAVS)
- Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber (SBSEC)
- Volunteer Centre Borders
Each of the partners are a constituent part of the Third Sector Forum a body which elects from its members a representative to sit at the highest level of community planning, the Strategic Board.
Third sector Interfaces are funded by The Scottish Government, through a specially designed formula against a strict set of criteria which are reported on bi-annually.
In cases where the interface is a partnership of organisations, like the Scottish Borders, one agency is asked to take the lead role, the lead in the Borders is The Bridge.
Background:
Each of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland has a Third Sector Interface to support, promote, develop and represent the third sector:
- Community groups
- Voluntary organisations
- Social enterprises
- Volunteering.
In addition the Interface is the vital connection between the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and the third sector.
CPPs are made up of public, private and third sector bodies including the local authority, health board, fire, police, enterprise agency and others. They are tasked with ensuring “public services provided in the area of the local authority are provided and the planning of that provision takes place” (Local Government in Scotland Act 2003).
Local authorities have a duty to initiate, maintain and facilitate this process and Scottish Ministers have a duty to promote and encourage the use of Community Planning.
The role of the Third Sector Interface is to:
- support voluntary organisations operating in the area, both local and those national organisations that deliver services at the local level;
- support and promote volunteering;
- support and develop of social enterprise;
- provide the connection between the Community Planning Partnership and the third sector.