Supporting the Third Sector Project
2014 – Present
About the project
Previously known as the National Third Sector GIRFEC (NTSG) Project, the Supporting the Third Sector Project (STTS) supports Third Sector Interfaces and third sector partners to become more involved and influential in local and national planning and decision-making related to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families.
Our aims:
Our ambition is that the third sector is fully integrated with Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) and contributes to the strategic planning of local children and family services as equal partners.
This means:
- Strengthening local support structures and clear paths for effective engagement with the third sector locally.
- Providing and facilitating mechanisms for Third Sector Interfaces, and other third sector organisations, to better influence and inform the development of national policy relating to children, young people, and families.
- Strengthened awareness, impact, and influence of the third sector, through the provision of training, information sharing, guidance and peer support.
- Raising the profile and understanding of the role and contribution of Third Sector Interfaces and the wider third sector make to achieving better outcomes for children, young people, and families.
How do we do this?
- Facilitate the national Third Sector Interface (TSI) Children’s Services Network.
- Keeping organisations informed of relevant policies and legislations.
- Provide tailored support to local Children’s Services Forums.
- Co-ordinate opportunities for third sector and statutory partners to network, develop collaborative working, and influence policies.
- Support local third sector organisations and grassroot community groups to have a voice at national level.
- Support the third sector and partners to include children and young people’s voices at strategic planning.
Our work with TSIs
TSIs play an important role in the third sector. They are a key point of intelligence about local third sector organisations and volunteering.
Children in Scotland engages with TSIs in a number of ways:
- STTS Project hosts the TSI Children’s Services Network in Scotland. The network brings TSIs together to strengthen their capability to support the local third sector’s engagement in children’s services planning and their confidence to contribute to children’s services policies and practice issues.
- We host the TSI Commissioning and Procurement Peer Support Group, which investigates best practice in commissioning and purchasing, building a better understanding of the principles of commissioning, and procurement policy including long term legislative and policy drivers, and to be informed about upcoming funding opportunities.
- Our Children’s Sector Policy and Strategic Forum promotes collaboration between and across Children’s Services Planning Partnerships (CSPPs), Scottish Government and key stakeholders, with an aim of strengthening the development, delivery, and accountability of Children’s Services Planning arrangements.
Project resources
Download the project information sheet as well as the application form below.
Related articles
Project manager
Our partners
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Scottish GovernmentSupporting the Third Sector Project works closely with the Scottish Government to influence policies.Find Out More -
Children’s ParliamentChildren’s Parliament is Scotland’s centre of excellence for children’s participation and engagement.Find Out More
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The Health and Social Care AllianceThe ALLIANCE is the national third sector intermediary for a range of health and social care organisations.Find Out More
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the STTS Project, please get in touch.