NEW organisation to support third sector

A new organisation will support and represent the third sector across the Borders. This includes all charities, social enterprises, community groups and volunteering.

Our mandate is to:

• be a central source of knowledge about the third sector locally
• be a voice for the sector
• seek to influence local and national policy
• facilitate networking and enable collaboration
• build capacity in the sector and in the community and support new organisations and groups.

Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) were formed in 2009 to act as an intermediary between the third sector and statutory partners across Scotland. Over the last 13 years, this has been delivered in the Borders by Bavs, The Bridge, Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber and Volunteer Centre Borders.

There has recently been a comprehensive review of how to offer more co-ordinated and consistent support to the local third sector. The review was externally led and supported by a steering group of TSI partners.

The main recommendation was that a single organisation should be created – Borders TSI. The steering group has since become the shadow board of the Borders TSI, which is applying for charitable status.

All the partner organisations and the TSI have worked hard to determine what role each of them should have in future to best serve the Borders third sector and communities.

They concluded that the TSI should be the primary organisation to support community development and representation of the local third sector. The partners will transfer their relevant functions to the TSI. The transition will be completed by 31 March 2023, when the new organisation will be launchedT.

The TSI is grateful to the partner organisations who have acted in the best interests of the Borders communities. Each partner has issued informationabout what this means for their own organisation and its future.

Support for social enterprises will be reviewed separately by spring 2023 to ensure that this significant part of the sector also has the best chance to thrive. In the meantime, Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber will continue to offer support.

We are confident that, with the support of the core partners, Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council and our growing membership, the TSI will be in the best place to champion the vital contribution the third sector makes and how it adds value in every community.

Please sign up to receive our newsletter and register an interest in becoming a member..

If you would like any more information about these changes or the support that we will offer, please get in touch.

Best wishes

Duncan Dunlop
(Interim Chief Executive)
Borders TSI