Who we work with

The Supporting the Third Sector (STTS) Project supports the third sector to strengthen its role in children’s services planning at both a local and national level. To achieve this, we work very closely with a range of partners.

The success of the STTS Project relies on our partnership work with our colleagues across the sector, including the Scottish Government, the Children Services Planning Partnerships, Children in Scotland members, the Strategic Forum, Third Sector Interfaces, as well as the input of the wider sector.

To discuss how the STTS Project may be able to help, please e-mail STTSProject@childreninscotland.org.uk

Third Sector Interfaces

What are the Third Sector Interfaces?

Third sector interfaces, also known as TSIs play an important role in the third sector landscape.

“They are a key point of intelligence about local third sector organisations and volunteering. They understand the local landscape and how it affects the third sector's ability to contribute to local outcomes and national strategies (such as health and social care and community empowerment).

They are well positioned to identify support needs for local community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and around volunteering.

TSIs can identify third sector issues and perspectives that can feed into both local and national policy.”

Click here to read more on the Scottish Government's view of TSIs

Click here to access a list of TSIs

What is the role of a TSI in children's services planning?

The Statutory Guidance for Children's Services Planning makes specific reference to the TSIs in their role to facilitate broader consultation and planning process, mediating or co-ordinating responses from across the third sector. (Section 10: 90)

The same Guidance also suggests that the local TSI could offer smaller groups and organisations a range of opportunities to provide assistance, allowing the groups and organisations to determine their own level of engagement. (Section 14: 146)

Many TSIs facilitate a local Children’s Services Forum to enable third sector organisations to engage collectively with the strategic planning and delivery of local children’s services. In addition, many offer networking and training events for local third sector service providers.

To find out what your local TSI has on offer, or how you could engage with children’s services planning, contact them directly.

Click here to access the contact information

How we work with TSIs

TSI Children’s Services Network Reference Group

TSI Children’s Services Network

TSI Commissioning and Purchasing Peer Support Group

The group’s activities include investigating best practice in commissioning and purchasing, building a better understanding of the principles of commissioning, and purchasing policy including long term legislative and policy drivers, and to be informed about upcoming funding opportunities.

The Commissioning and Purchasing Peer Support group meets every eight weeks an the secretariat is provided by Supporting The Third Sector.

Children’s Sector Strategic and Policy Forum

STTS Newsletter