Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI)
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 May 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 6 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Page | 1 Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (ABTSI) Supporting the Third Sector in Argyll and Bute. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES (ADD YOURS!) FIND FUNDING THIRD SECTOR EVENTS IN ARGYLL & BUTE (ADD YOURS!) Third Sector Support Advisor for Cowal and Bute: Janis Marshall Reilly - janismarshallreilly@argylltsi.org.uk This ABTSI update covers the period from 5th February 2025 – 15th April 2025 Scottish Government, Parliament, the TSI landscape and policy activity ABTSI CEO Takki Sulaiman has been working with TSI colleagues across Scotland to lobby the Scottish Government on third sector issues including: - fair funding - investment in prevention - the third sector’s role in the Public Service Reform agenda The resulting pre-budget document was submitted to Ministers. An updated briefing is being produced and forms the basis of an emerging ‘manifesto’ for the third sector. The TSI Scotland Network is producing a policy position matrix for use ahead of the election manifesto production period. A national two-day conference is being arranged for TSI Scotland Network in October/November 2025.
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Page | 2 Local strategic partnerships Fairer Funding for the third sector In December 2024, the local Community Planning Partnership (CPP) agreed in principle to adopt the SCVO and TSI Scotland Network’s joint document on Fairer Funding. This outlines the importance of: - multi-year funding agreements - funding for core activity - early release of funding ABTSI CEO Takki Sulaiman is working with partners on a local version as a charter for the CPP. Meeting with Argyll and Bute Council Chief Executive ABTSI CEO Takki Sulaiman met Argyll and Bute’s Chief Executive Pippa Milne in April 2025. The wide-ranging conversation included: - concerns about the stability and viability of the local third sector - establishing a budget for The Promise - prevention at a time of pressures on public sector budgets - the TSI’s funding platform - Fair Funding for the third sector Poverty Alliance Campaign – Scotland Demands Better The Scotland Demands Better campaign is a unified anti-poverty movement, coordinated by The Poverty Alliance which: - seeks to activate a broad range of civil society organisations to support greater action addressing poverty and inequality, culminating in a demonstration in Edinburgh on 25th of October. The Scotland Demands Better campaign fulfils one of the TSI’s core purposes; tackling inequality and poverty. ABTSI’s CEO Takki Sulaiman has joined its steering group. Community Wealth Building (CWB) priorities and legislation ABTSI is promoting the implementation of recommendations made in a (TSI funded) CWB action plan for Argyll and Bute. The Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill was published on 20th March 2025 by the Scottish Government and highlights new duties to be placed on local authorities and specified community planning partners.
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Page | 3 The Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee is running a ‘Call for views’ until 23rd May, to help inform its examination of the Bill. It is proposed that the TSI submit a corporate response based on our local experience. Funding environment – Integration Joint Board (IJB) and Council The public sector funding environment continues to tighten. The Integration Joint Board has approved a budget that will see a further £12m in savings. The supporting budget papers starkly state that Argyll and Bute’s Health and Social Care budget is unsustainable. As the health element is protected the cuts predominantly fall on social care. ABTSI will support and advocate for the Third Sector as it responds. Sector support, strategic action plan delivery 1. Argyll and Bute Resilience and Transformation Fund In January 2025, on behalf of the Argyll and the Islands Local Action Group (LAG), ABTSI launched a targeted fund aimed at Third Sector community anchor organisations to transform working practice at a time of significant financial challenge. 22 applications were received and 5 grants made. Follow up continues, with great demand for support to transform business plans, models and financial practice. This has been factored into the TSI’s new (draft) business plan. 2. Funding awards to Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (ABTSI) ABTSI has received: - its grant letter for 2025-2026 at a standstill level. - grant letters for a pilot for two-year funding, for years 5 and 6 of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. 3. Strategy review and Third Sector Support Advisor’s Local Plans Strategy: - The tender that will lead to ABTSI’s 2025-2030 strategy will be posted on our website by the end of April 2025. The tender has been readjusted to reflect coproduction methodologies and the principles of Community Wealth Building. TSSA Plans: The TSSA for Bute and Cowal, Janis Marshall Reilly and her four counterparts across Argyll have each produced their first local area plans. These seek to
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Page | 4 provide a hyper local model of support for Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) based on local indicators and experience. As more Place Plans and Community Plans are produced, the TSSA’s plans will evolve to support these. 4. ABTSI Walking Development Co-ordinator The TSI’s Wellbeing Development Manager, Mahailia Kateryna, along with local partners, has (subject to satisfactory references) recruited a Walking Development Coordinator. Their role will be to stimulate healthy walking activity in volunteer led groups across Argyll and Bute. 5. Trauma Informed Practice training All TSI staff (including our Positive Destinations team) have now attended Trauma Informed Practice training sessions. CEO Takki Sulaiman has attended the Scottish Trauma Informed Leaders Training (STILT) course. END OF ARGYLL AND BUTE TSI UPDATE (ABTSI) Third Sector Support Advisor for Cowal and Bute: Janis Marshall Reilly - janismarshallreilly@argylltsi.org.uk Website: Argyll & Bute Third Sector Interface (argylltsi.org) Photo Credit: Dunoon On The Move