Scottish Welfare Fund Connecting with Third Sector 23 January 2013

1. Scottish Welfare Fund Connecting with Third Sector 23 January 2013

2. Who are we? • Lynn Williams, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) • Beth Reid, Citizens Advice Scotland

3. Aim of session: What do we mean by third sector? Why is the sector critical to the Scottish Welfare Fund? Connecting at local level Desk resource – key third sector organisations When you go back to your desk – what next?

4. What do we mean by the Third sector?? • An estimated 45,000 non-profit organisations currently work in Scotland • Around half of them are recognised as charities • It is called the ‘third’ sector because it is not part of the ‘public sector’ or the ‘private sector’ – it is also referred to as the ‘voluntary sector’, ‘the non-profit sector’ or the ‘charitable sector’ • Turnover in 2011: £4.5 billion • Assets in 2011: £8.9 billion • Number of staff employed: 138,000 • Volunteers and volunteer development

5. What do we mean by the Third Sector? • The bulk of the sector is made up of small, community-based organisations, working in just one local area. • At the other end of the scale - small number of large ‘household name’ charities, who often work nationally, and account for most of the turnover and staffing in the third sector. • Many such as Marie Curie and Oxfam rely on public donations • Others such as the Richmond Fellowship and Barnardo’shold service delivery contracts with a number of local authorities. • Some have combination of local authority, health, trust/lottery funding and private donations

6. What do we mean by the Third sector???Examples:Unpaid carers (650,000) - Network of 28 Carers CentresFamily Support – Contact a Family, Barnardo’s, Family Support projects; informal kinship care groupsCondition specific – Downs Syndrome, Stroke Association, National Autistic Society; Enable; Capability Scotland; local disability support projects; Mental Health e.g. SAMHAlcohol/Substance Misuse – Turning Point; Addaction; Scottish Families Against DrugsCrisis – Samaritans, Food banks; mental health charity helplines, Advice/Information – Citizens Advice Bureaux, organisations above, rights projects; Law Centres.Advocacy/indepth support – Advocacy Projects; welfare rights support, appeals, tribunals (CAB and others) Finance/money advice – Financial inclusion projects, Credit UnionsHousing / homelessness – Shelter, Bethany Christian Trust

7. What do we mean by Third Sector? Third sector interfaces: Key points of contact forvoluntary organisations in each local authority. • Should be linked to Community Planning • Key players in Reshaping Care Change Fund – will have links to local authorities, NHS and others in local area. • Existing networks through TSI will involve local and national voluntary organisations: • with an interest in Scottish Welfare Fund, • who make referrals to Fund, • who may offer wider support for customers applying to SWF – whether or not they are successful

8. What do we mean by Third Sector? Citizens Advice Bureaux: • Citizens Advice Scotland is the umbrella organisation for Scotland’s network of 80 Citizens Advice Bureau offices • CABs operate in 30 out of 32 LAs www.cas.org.uk/bureaux • Provide free, impartial, independent and confidential advice in over 250 locations • Benefits, debt, housing, budgeting, employment, family and consumer advice • Clients sought advice on nearly a million issues in 2009/10 • Citizens Advice Direct 0808 800 9060 • Self-help information - www.adviceguide.org.uk

9. Welfare Reform affects Third Sector • In a recent SCVO survey, 63% of respondents said that they would be either directly or indirectly affected by welfare reform (Oct 2012). • Key concerns for organisations included: • Coping with increased demand • Dealing with increasingly complex enquiries • Lack of capacity means other work has to be dropped to meet demand • Key concerns for clients included: • Stress from changes leading to increased mental health problems • Disabled people being badly affected by Work Capability Assessments and the appeals process • The poorest and most vulnerable people in society being at increased risk of social isolation, homelessness and destitution

10. Scottish Welfare Fund and Third Sector: Why is third sector important to implementing fund? • A range of community groups/charities already refer to existing DWP programmes. Will make referrals to new Fund. • Meeting both immediate and wider needs of customers applying for new Fund: • Whether ‘yes’/’no’ – application process will pick up both crisis and other needs for support. • Making sure that people are not on their own and are accessing help – onward referral to other support networks/organisations • Meeting crisis needs e.g. suicide, food, debt etc. • Working in partnership with a range of voluntary organisations critical to successful implementation and planning your “customer journeys”.

11. Scottish Welfare Fund and Third Sector • Local authorities will already work in partnership with voluntary organisations which provide key points of support for families, people with disabilities, providers of advice and information, etc. • Who are they? How will you connect with them? • How can they help? e.g. targeting publicity, providing supporting advice, providing ongoing support services? • Remember there is space on the application form for people to indicate what other support they may be receiving.

12. Scottish Welfare Fund and Third Sector: Desk resource: • Quick, desk based resource to help you know where to start • What charities are out there? • How do you connect with them? • Covering some helplines - Those organisations which help with extremely difficult cases? • Support in addition to what the local authority also offer (eg homelessness; social work, children’s services etc.) • Your views?

13. In small groups… Part 1 Look at the (draft) third sector ‘desk’ guide: • Is it useful? What do you think of the format? What would make it better? • Take some notes in your groups – can someone do this? Part 2 How does your LA connect with 3rd sector organisations? • Which departments would have relevant contacts? • Who do you already work with? • What other national and local organisations are you aware of? • What different ways could the third sector help you? • What’s the best way to guide your decision makers to the right resources and organisations?

14. Next steps Check out: • Who else works with the third sector within your LA? • Are there any guides to voluntary services for your area? • Who is your third sector interface (e.g. local Council for Voluntary Services)? Do you have a local CAB? • What are the key organisations in your area to liaise with? • How can you work together effectively? • What services / support do they provide? • Who is eligible? • What capacity do they have? • How can they support you?