Agenda item

An update provided by Duncan Dunlop (Borders TSI).

3.1       With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute of 16 June 2022, Mr Duncan Dunlop (TSI) and Ms Juliana Amaral (BAVS) gave a presentation on the role, function and recent developments within the Borders Third Sector Interface (TSI).  Case studies were shared with members to illustrate the recent work of the TSI, focussed around the Warm Spaces initiative and subsequent signposting to further support.  The valuable work of local volunteers was highlighted whereby they brought local knowledge of and enthusiasm to support their community.  The TSI was able to connect these volunteers with those in need and supported them to maintain momentum so activities happened quickly and safely.  The TSI role centred on a collaborative approach to community capacity building which brought statutory, housing and third sector stakeholders together.  The work that had been done in the village of Ayton, Berwickshire was highlighted; a Warm Space provision that now supported 90 people on a weekly basis.  At present there were 17 projects underway across the Scottish Borders, all based on a similar model of funding and disbursement.  National Lottery Match Funding had been made available to communities, along with statutory funding.  The learning from the projects was shared across the Borders in order to avoid duplication of effort.  The work of the TSI aligned closely with Place Making, social prescribing, community wealth building, financial inclusion and climate emergency action and made improvements towards reducing both health inequalities and reliance on Health and Social Care services.  Borders TSI continued to work closely with Dumfries and Galloway TSI to bring back Mental Health & Wellbeing funding to the Borders for 2023/24.  Other partners included SOSE, SOSREP and Borderlands. 

3.2       Future developments within the TSI were to result in a volunteering hub for all ages, skills and interests, an initial 14 staff members available to all communities with social enterprise development at the heart of economic development, and a name change of the organisation to ‘Borders Community Action (BCA)’ as of 1 April 2023.  The legacy partners Volunteer Centre Borders and The Bridge were to be wound up with all staff retained and incorporated into BCA.  BAVS was to continue their community development work and refocus attention on their three charity shops to become zero waste hubs, with this work complementing the work of BCA rather than competing.  The Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber was under review as part of an independent evaluation of social enterprise delivery across Scotland.  Work was ongoing by The Bridge and BAVS to unite the Community Transport service as per the outcome of the 2021 consultation.  It was highlighted that the annual funding award of £309k had been the same over the past 11 years; there was a need to increase this funding to a target of £500k to maximise impact.  Borders TSI administration headquarters was to be relocated, with the possibility of an office at Council headquarters in Newtown St Boswells.  Consideration was to be given to how a community presence was to be maintained going forward. 

DECISION

NOTED the update.