VASLan – Third Sector Interface in South Lanarkshire – has launched the first event of Third Sector Locality Network at The Church Halls of St Nicholas in Lanark on Friday, 16th September 2022.

The event is in collaboration with Clydesdale Community Initiative (CCI) Scotland and Healthy Valleys, local organisations that play a role in supporting the communities in the Clydesdale locality.

This event in Lanark marked the beginning of the rebranding of the Third Sector Locality Network which was introduced in 2015 as the Third Sector Forum. The locality network provides a platform for the third sector to share ideas, and influence public policy, while promoting ways of working that address the local need, encourage creative thinking, and celebrate the sector’s contribution.​

 

Niall McShannon, Managing Director of CCI Scotland said:

“This networking event provides an opportunity for organisations in Clydesdale to describe all the work that they have done in their community.”

“We also look into a couple of issues that people have raised, one of them is about funding, and how to make their voices heard so they can make the biggest difference and contribution to their communities.”

He also added that:

“We are hoping that organisations and community groups will feel more connected with each other, to open more opportunities to work in partnership, to support each other, and to have their voices heard to address challenges that they face.”

Jean Rooney, Founder and Managing Director of Feel the Warmth CIC, who attended the networking event said that:

“The event today was good. It’s very different from the previous one that I have been to. The session was very relevant to all who attended.”

“I really enjoyed the face-to-face interaction. And it was great to be able to see people and to put their face into their company and organisations, and that I would like to see more often.”

 

Steven Sweeney, Chief Executive of VASLan, said:

“VASLan’s role today was to listen, to learn, and to better understand how we can support the incredible third sector of Clydesdale. Improving locality-based intelligence, testing local views and supporting wider community feedback will help us collectively understand the gaps, allowing us to source the solutions and move to action.”

“Thank you to Healthy Valleys and Clydesdale Community Initiatives for taking the lead, and to all those fantastic volunteers and third sector organisation representatives who participated so actively. Really grateful to the Health and Social Care Partnership also for their support and collaboration as we build upon our cross-sector working for the benefit of South Lanarkshire communities.”

Soumen Sengupta, Director of Health and Social Care for South Lanarkshire, said in a statement:

“A robust, resilient and progressive third sector has a key role in strengthening the connections between local people and the vitality of local communities.”

“The establishment of these locality networks, alongside the wider work being spearheaded by VASLan, is another important milestone that I look forward to our all building upon.”

 

In March this year, VASLan announced the restructuring and enhancement of the Third Sector Forum as part of the effort to improve engagement in the sector. All activity is driven locally by third sector organisations in each of four localities in South Lanarkshire – Clydesdale, Rutherglen and Cambuslang, East Kilbride and Strathaven, and Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre.

A sum of £10,000 is provided to each successful organisation or partnership to take the role of leading the Third Sector Locality Network during 2022/2023 to help them organising the networking event.

The Third Sector Locality Network is scheduled throughout September and early October this year. If you are working with organisations or community groups in South Lanarkshire and would like to come along to the Third Sector Locality Network, you can check the schedule below and book your ticket to guarantee a space.

East Kilbride and Strathaven Locality Network

Tuesday 27th September, 9.30 am - 12.30 pm

The Village Centre, 12 Maxwell Drive, East Kilbride, Glasgow G74 4HG

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-kilbride-and-strathaven-third-sector-locality-network-tickets-416545146747

Cambuslang and Rutherglen Locality Network

Wednesday 28th September, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Whitlawburn Community Resource Centre, 57 Belmont Road, Cambuslang, G72 8PG

Registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/voluntaryactionsouthlanarkshire/761309

Hamilton, Larkhall, and Blantyre Locality Network

Monday 10th October, 2.30 - 4.00 pm

Larkhall and District Volunteer Group, 55 Victoria Street, Larkhall, ML9 2BW

Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/rW4BbzGZRQ