The forthcoming Scottish budget will be announced tomorrow afternoon.
In light of the forthcoming budget announcement, the TSI Scotland Network is calling on the Scottish Government to instigate public service reform with the third sector at its heart. As the Third Sector Interface (TSI) representing organisations in Perth and Kinross, we are here to amplify this call to action and support local organisations during this uncertain time.
The TSI Scotland Network is a body that represents the 32 local Third Sector Interfaces across the country who work to support charities, local organisations and social enterprises. Together, our network is working to close the feedback loop between local organisations and national government priorities.
Without funding for the third sector as a whole, communities throughout Scotland will suffer. This is why we are advocating alongside the rest of the TSI Scotland Network for long-term fair funding and a wider recognition of the sector’s contributions from the Scottish Government.
Our hopes for the budget
The TSI Scotland Network are calling on Government to ensure communities and a sustainably funded third sector are at the heart of public service reform.
In advance of the budget on 4th December, the Network has four asks:-
Ask 1: Invest in collaborative third sector delivery models to support public sector reform.
Ask 2: Fairer funding to enable the systems change the Scottish Government seeks.
Ask 3: Direct funding to communities that is shaped by local people and groups.
Ask 4: Support the TSI Scotland Network to lead on change and fund it to do so.
Further detail on these asks can be found below or on the TSI Scotland Network website.
The need for fairer funding
This new Scottish Budget generates an opportunity to address these issues and invest in public service reform that would create long-term sustainability.
Long-term fair funding would help ensure the sector could offer fair work and security to its employees, be proactively involved in needed local change, and deliver sustainable impact into the future.
The sector is struggling with the impact of successive budget cuts and a failure to fund organisations properly. Now is the time to invest in multi-year funding agreements as well as a funding increase that reflects cumulative inflationary pressures and the forthcoming increases to National Insurance Contributions.
On the ground, the third sector employs 133,000 people across Scotland that work locally with people, places and public services – each of them committed to improving our communities. The sector is a cornerstone in helping keep our society compassionate, equal and just.
We’re here for you
Our Development Officers are here to support your organisation and help you meet the challenges of an uncertain funding environment. We are also responding in real time to political developments that will affect the organisations we support, such as this announcement and the recent UK Budget announcement.
Sign up for our newsletter so you get the latest of this advocacy work, including news, events, workshops, job vacancies and more. We also want to gather your thoughts so we can advocate for your needs. After the budget is announced, we will be requesting feedback via our newsletter to identify next steps and key priorities for organisations in Perth and Kinross.