Funding the Future: Why Scotland’s Communities Need a Bigger Say
As part of the TSI Network, here is our response to the recently announced Programme for Government 2025 – 2026. Our network statement reflects upon its approaches to public service reform and what funding allocations will mean for the third sector locally and nationally.
TSI Network Statement – Charity body calls for more direct investment in communities
The third sector plays a vital role in maximising the impact of public service reform. To meet this potential, we call for structural changes that empower community-led solutions, recognise the vital role of volunteering, and invest in the skilled facilitators and leaders needed to build capacity and drive cross-sector collaboration.
TSI Scotland Network welcomes the Programme for Government’s recognition of the Third Sector, including the reference its role in public service reform and to Social Enterprise in Improved Communities – Community Wealth Building.
We also welcome the Fair Funding trials, particularly the focus on multi-year funding and using the early prevention-focus of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Direct investment in community-led groups is essential, and must be matched with long-term financial assurance.
However, we are concerned by the absence of any direct commitment to investing in volunteering especially at a time of significant national decline in volunteer participation across critical services for children, young people, and health.
We support the shift toward prevention-focused spending, with recognition that prevention doesn’t always sit within the scope of expensive service delivery models. It should be rooted in communities, and the focus and expenditure therefore should address community strengths and assets before re-building services.
In that context, the Network is looking forward to continuing to work with Government, collaborating and innovating across several of its key priority areas.