WAG Voluntary Sector Scheme

Voluntary Sector Scheme

To access a copy of 'The Third Dimension - A Strategic Action Plan for the Voluntary Sector Scheme' published in October 2007, please click here or download from the left of the screen.  (Hard copies are available from SCVS on tel: 01792 544011.)   For findings from WAG's Consultation for the Strategic Action Plan, please click here.

Voluntary Sector Partnership Council

The main purpose of the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council is to make sure that the principles set out in the Voluntary Sector Scheme are put into practice. It also provides an opportunity for the sector to raise key areas of interest or concern with Assembly Members and Ministers when they arise.   The Voluntary Sector Partnership Council meets three times a year in different venues across Wales and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Minutes of the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council, can be found by clicking here.

May 2008 - Update: Third sector meets with the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

The Spring 2008 meeting between the third sector and the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr Brian Gibbons AM, took place on 8 May 2008 at the old Assembly building in Cardiff Bay. The sector emphasised the vital importance of involving it in the early development and drafting of Welsh Assembly Government policies and in the related ‘policy gateway’ process, using the ‘integration tool’, which together attempt to ensure that all policies take due account of each other and are sustainable. There is currently an evaluation running which should ensure the full integration of the third sector into the formal policy gateway sessions. This will be evaluated and third sector participants will be asked to give their views.

The meeting then welcomed the fact that the Welsh Local Government Association is now echoing the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council in asking for feedback on the relationship between local government and the third sector in each unitary authority area. Once the results of each of these surveys are known, they will be compared by WCVA and WLGA, with the aim of ensuring the propagation of best practice throughout Wales. It was noted that the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council survey now encompasses other statutory partners to the local government/third sector compact, such as Local Health Boards, Health Trusts, police and police authorities. The Minister will raise the issue of WLGA working with the NHS Confederation to ensure there is a view given from that angle as well.

It was then noted that during the afternoon of 8 May there would be a meeting to discuss possible Welsh Assembly Government Social Justice and Local Government departmental actions resulting from the Strategic Action Plan of the Voluntary Sector Scheme, entitled ‘the third dimension’. Twenty representatives of the third sector were due to attend and work with civil servants to come up with ideas. Indeed, this meeting did take place and much hard work was done. The output from that is being written up by Welsh Assembly Government and will then be refined in collaboration with WCVA and others.

The next matter at the ministerial meeting concerned adult advocacy. Brian Gibbons recognised this as a developing area and it was agreed to set up a ‘task and finish’ group, comprised of Welsh Assembly Government and third sector people, to move forward discussions and to look at whether strategic funding might be made available.

The meeting was very constructive and the third sector representatives look forward to the next meeting. In the meantime, Dr Gibbons will be paying a visit to Morfa Hall to meet WCVA staff and tenant organisations, prior to attending a Spatial Plan meeting there in June. WCVA in north Wales looks forward to welcoming him.

November 2007 - Update

The following documents are now available for download by clicking here:  

ð       A Strategic Action Plan for the Voluntary Sector Scheme: ‘The Third Dimension’

ð       Ministerial Update on Action arising from VSPC Meeting (02.02.07 & 25.06.07)

ð       Annual Report on the Voluntary Sector Scheme 2006/07

ð       Information provision and the role of the voluntary sector