Voluntary Sector Scheme

Unique to Wales, under the provisions of the Government of Wales Act 1998, the Voluntary Sector Scheme outlines how the National Assembly for Wales proposes to promote the interests of voluntary organisations. It outlines the broad principles and shared values that underpin the relationship between the National Assembly and the sector in Wales. Key chapters include working in partnership and practical arrangements for dialogue and co-operation between the voluntary sector and the Assembly (through the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council and Ministerial Meetings).

A key commitment of the Scheme is that the Assembly will maintain a Code of Practice for Funding the Voluntary Sector. This sets out the key principles that underpin Assembly funding for the voluntary sector and what the Assembly expects in return.

The Third Dimension: A Strategic Action Plan for the Voluntary Sector Scheme can be downloaded from the WCVA website.

Third Sector Partnership Council
The Third Sector Partnership Council (TSPC) is the key body, which enables the voluntary sector and the National Assembly to communicate on key issues. Its purpose is to make sure that the principles set out in the Voluntary Sector Scheme are put into practice. The meetings, which take place quarterly give members of the voluntary sector a chance to bring up matters of interest or concern with Assembly Members and Ministers.

Children in Wales is the representative organisation for the "Children and Families" voluntary sector on the TSPC and Catriona Williams, Chief Executive is the usual attendee. Children in Wales wants to take forward any issues you may wish to be addressed at future TSPC meetings or at the Voluntary Sector meetings with Ministers. To ease this process Siân Regan, acts as a liaison person to collect and collate your views for Children in Wales to take forward. Please download and complete this form to become a member of the Children & Families Network.

Meetings of the Third Sector Partnership Council

Information about each of the recent meetings of the Third Sector Partnership Council is available on the Third Sector Partnership Council page in the Proceedings Section of this website. The next meeting of the TSPC will be held on the 8 July 2010. All TSPC meetings are open to the public. If you would like to attend, please call the Assembly booking line on on 029 20898 477 or E-mail: assembly.bookings@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

The last meeting was held in on 29 April 2010. Minutes will be made available on www.wcva.org.uk on the Policy and Research pages. For more information on the work of the Third Sector Partnership Council and the Voluntary Sector Scheme contact Mirriam Nasrat (mnasrat@wcva.org.uk)

Ministerial meetings

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Voluntary Sector Scheme makes provision for twice yearly meetings between representatives of the relevant voluntary sector networks and each of the Cabinet Ministers covering their areas of responsibility. For details of Cabinet Ministers and their responsibilities visit the Assembly's website.

The meetings take place twice yearly, in the spring and the autumn. The voluntary sector and the Welsh Assembly Government place items on the agenda which are relevant to the ministerial brief and address broad voluntary sector issues. It is not possible to discuss issues relating to single organisations in this context.

Next Meetings:

• 19 May 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
• 26 May 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Heritage
• 07 June 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Health and Social Services
• 08 June 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Education, Children and Young People
• 09 June 2010: Meeting with Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
• 17 June 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Rural Affairs
• 27 October 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Economy & Transport
• 17 November 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
• 01 December 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Heritage
• 01 December 2010: Meeting with Minister for Social Justice and Local Government 
• 06 December 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Health and Social Services
• 08 December 2010: Meeting with the Minister for Rural Affairs

Children in Wales is keen to take forward any broad voluntary sector issues you may wish to be addressed at future Voluntary Sector meetings with Ministers. In the first instance contact Sian Regan, at Children in Wales, E-mail: sian.regan@childreninwales.org.uk who will collect and collate your views for the meetings.

There is more information about the Voluntary Sector scheme, TSPC, Ministerial meetings, the Annual Report and Code of Practice for Funding the Voluntary Sector on the Assembly's website.

Resources

• About the Third Sector Partnership Council
• Children & Families Network Sign-up Form