1. Outcomes Clear Understanding of the role of a Third Sector Interface within Community Planning Clear Understanding of roles and skills of a Third Sector Representative Identify any areas for future training Build a network and share experiences

2. 1.Who merged to create the interface? 2.Who funds our work? 3.What are the 4 main outcome areas of our work? 4.What is our vision? 5.What is our mission? 6.Name as many staff/job roles as you can 7.What do we NOT do? 8.What do you think some of our key messages are?

3. How we came into being Not fit for purpose Duplication of funding Merger of A&E CVS, Volunteer Action, The Bridge (Wigtownshire CVS), DGSEN

4. What is a Third Sector Interface? An effective Third Sector Interface benefits the sector as a whole, providing it with a strong voice that advocates the role the sector plays in our communities. An effective Third Sector Interface provides a safe space for third sector organisations to engage with each other and explore issues of common concern. An effective Third Sector Interface acts as a single point of contact for public sector partners and improves communication between community planning partners. An effective Third Sector Interface challenges traditional thinking and promotes new ideas.

5. Our vision is of a strong and sustainable third sector that can make a lasting contribution to the wellbeing of the people and communities of Dumfries and Galloway. Our mission is to work together with the third sector in Dumfries and Galloway to be its voice; and to become a centre of excellence for the promotion of the sector and the provision of support and services to the sector.

6. What we do (and who does it) Promote, support and develop a strong third sector (Development Officers/Area Leads) Develop social enterprise (Lead Officer for Social Enterprise) Develop volunteers and volunteering (Lead Officer for Volunteering) Connect the third sector to community planning (Policy, Research and Community Planning Officer) Membership, Training, Events, Funding, Support, Projects

7. What we don’t do (currently) Become involved in party politics Deliver business support to the private sector Control groups (we do things with groups not to them) Be accountable for groups Direct service delivery Take sides

8. Key messages for 2015/16 What is the third sector and how are we different from the private and public sector? Volunteers are the DNA of our sector. Without them there would be no third sector. Volunteering helps people to develop lifelong skills and can contribute to individual wellbeing and prosperity. The third sector makes a significant contribution to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people and communities of Dumfries and Galloway. The third sector can provide increasingly effective solutions to meeting the needs of communities, service users and carers. The third sector can contribute to the co-production and design of services and the challenges of public service reform. The third sector is increasingly more enterprising. An enterprising third sector can become central to a thriving social economy in Dumfries and Galloway.