Children in Scotland gathers views on proposed Third Sector Partnership

Children in Scotland members shared their views on the Scottish Government’s public service reform agenda and the proposed Third Sector Partnership at a Children in Scotland Member Forum in June.

The Forum was held shortly after the Scottish Government had committed to creating a Third Sector Partnership, co-designed with the sector, setting out a way to “work together to enhance services”.

As the network for Scotland’s children’s sector, Children in Scotland’s Member Forum provided an opportunity for diverse voices to come together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of creating a valuable and meaningful partnership.

While there was a reticence about the wider public service reform agenda, members were hopeful about the potentially transformative impact of the Third Sector Partnership helping to shift the dial towards prioritising preventative action.

During the meeting, members also expressed a desire for the partnership to be established on a statutory basis. Children in Scotland is now pulling together its recommendations to ensure it works in practice, whether statutory or not.

Speaking after the Forum, Children in Scotland’s Chief Executive Dr Judith Turbyne highlighted the partnership’s potential in ensuring the sector becomes “an equal partner with the Scottish Government in our shared mission to deliver better outcomes for children and their families”.

Public service reform was also high on the agenda during a recent Strategic and Policy Forum, chaired by Dr Turbyne. Sector leaders, including the newly appointed Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise, Siobhian Brown MSP, discussed the importance of reform in closing the implementation gap between policy and what is seen on the ground.

There was agreement during both meetings on the “major contribution” the third sector makes to ensuring public services better meet the needs of Scotland’s babies, children, young people and families.

Children in Scotland has expressed a strong commitment to working with key stakeholders, including its members and the Scottish Government, to make a meaningful and effective Third Sector Partnership a reality.

Click here to learn more about Children in Scotland’s member forums