Scotland's Third Sector - Scotland’s Third Sector: Making change happen

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Scotland’s Third Sector: Making change happen

Following last year’s highly successful event, Holyrood magazine is delighted to be working with SCVO for the third annual third sector conference.

The Scottish third sector is a big part of the Scottish economy. It turns over £4.4 billion, employs 137,000 people in more than 45,000 organisations, and manages assets totalling more than £9.2bn. More importantly, each year it helps hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland to lead more fulfilling and less encumbered lives.

The biggest issue facing the sector at this time is change. Every organisation is facing change, whether as a result of changing contracts or funding, or due to the economic climate, increasing demand or trying to do more with less. Organisations and individuals are asking questions, how do we cope, adapt and take advance of the rapidly changing circumstances to deliver a better Scotland.

But these times also offer opportunity. The third sector has creative, dedicated, determined and resourceful people. It is a vibrant and eclectic mix of large and small, well funded and under resourced, established and developing. Politicians of all parties are eager to tap in to that rich resource of insight and energy to reform and improve the delivery of public services. The Christie Commission is examining the future delivery of public services as no longer will these be provided solely by the public sector. However for public service reform the key question now is, how do we change the culture?

There is an entertaining and educational mix of speakers who will inspire, cajole, challenge and provoke delegates into thinking about ‘Making Change Happen’. Delegates will be encouraged to think what they need to do in their organisations to meet the challenges ahead and ensure that their organisation doesn’t merely survive but thrives in the coming months and years.

The event will be split into four sessions; two in the morning and two in the afternoon. The first session will hear how the Scottish Government envisages working alongside, supporting and empowering voluntary and charitable organisations over the next parliament. Martin Sime, Chief Executive of SCVO, will discuss how ‘we turn the dynamic upside down’.

The second session the conference will hear how to deliver organisational change by overcoming barriers, both internal and external. Breakout sessions will provide delegates with an opportunity to take part in thorough and wide-ranging discussions on the integration between health and social care policy, and how community assets and social finance can be used as tools for change.

Delegates will then come together for the final session to focus to hear from an experienced ‘change activist’ providing delegates with the perfectly optimistic note on which to end a day spent listening to and interacting with some of the UK’s leading authorities from a sector on the brink of great change.

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Who should attend?

Anyone working or volunteering for a charity, social enterprise or voluntary organisation
People working with the sector, local and national government, NHS and the private sector
Whether you are a decision maker or delivering change on the ground - this conference will help you

What previous delegates have said:

“Interesting and informative”
“Good value for money”
“Empowering and inspiring”
“I picked up lots of useful ideas”
“Well organised, insightful, a good day!”
“The speakers inspired me, generating a number of thoughts I want to develop further”
“Honest and refreshing”
“Lots to think about”
“Very good and relevant”
“A real inspiration”
“Superb, food for thought”