Resilient and empowered communities creating a stronger, fairer and more equitable Edinburgh with a thriving third sector at its heart.
Welcome to the Edinburgh Third Sector Interface (TSI) site. Here you can find out about our partnership, who we are and how, by working together, we are able to provide you with fully integrated support and help.
Our partnership starts from the principle that as the established experts in our respective fields, when we work together we are able to better support you - whether you are a volunteer, a voluntary organisation or a social enterprise. After all, without volunteers there is no voluntary sector, many social enterprises use volunteers and many voluntary organisations have social enterprise functions or aspirations. We all connect together.
Capacity
Developing the capacity of volunteering, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprise to achieve positive change.
During lockdown, a TSI team assessed 123 applications to the Wellbeing Fund which resulted in £1.35m awards to organisations delivering services in Edinburgh.
Connect
Providing leadership, vision and coordination to the local third sector to better respond to local priorities, including through partnership and collaboration.
During lockdown, Volunteer Edinburgh (VE) were able to support NHS Lothian in the fast track recruitment, training and eventual deployment of over 300 volunteers into acute hospital settings.
Voice
Ensuring a strong third sector voice at a strategic level within local planning structures and nationally.
During lockdown, Social Enterprise Network Scotland Reset Week (from 11 May) gave essential information to over 800 participants through 20 online events.
Who are we?
Edinburgh TSI is a partnership of three organisations which help to support and develop the city's third sector:
EVOC’s mission is to be a leader and catalyst of social change and our values are: Enabling; Fairness; Collaborating; Excellence; Creating; and Supporting.
Edinburgh Social Enterprise’s mission is to create opportunities for Edinburgh’s Social Enterprise community to develop and thrive, recognising its positive impact on society and the local community.
Volunteer Edinburgh's mission is simple, to inspire more people to volunteer so they can enhance their lives, the lives of others and build resilient communities.
What difference does the Third Sector Interface make?
The national vision for TSIs is 'Resilient and empowered communities creating a stronger, fairer and more equitable Scotland with a thriving third sector at its heart'.
By working together in partnership we:
- Promote and develop volunteering
- Support social enterprise development
- Support and develop a strong third sector
- Connect the third sector to the community planning process
Some useful resources:
Memorandum of Understanding and Governance Protocol here.
Contact details for Third Sector Interfaces across Scotland here.
Partnership Work Plan here.
The Edinburgh TSI has been awarded Committed to Excellence by the European Framework for Quality Management (EFQM).
