Third Sector Scheme - 2. Relationships

The Welsh Government and the Third Sector share a number of common values about the role of individuals and communities in a modern democracy, which will underpin all aspects of this Scheme. These values are about a society which:

• ensures that people are not treated less favourably because of their gender, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy and maternity, being married or in a civil partnership, being a disabled person, or being transgender
• is inclusive and enables people to participate in all its economic, social and cultural activities
• empowers people to participate in the development of their communities and recognises the value of such a contribution
• relies on people’s voluntary action to foster community leadership and enhance local democracy
• comprises public, private and voluntary sectors which complement each other and seek to tackle social issues in a spirit of partnership between them
• enjoys the benefits of a healthy environment and a thriving competitive economy, alongside vibrant community life, as a result of its commitment to sustainable development

The Welsh Government and the Third Sector recognise the challenges that public services face. Demand and expectations are increasing, and public funding is under continuing pressure. This means that preventative and community services are more important than ever. We recognise that quality of life cannot be delivered by the state alone, and we need to capitalise and build on community action and volunteering, and help communities to be resilient at the local neighbourhood level.

We believe that the Third Sector can help to transform the way that public services meet present and future demands, by treating people and communities as assets and equals in the design and delivery of services, not only as service receivers. Some people describe this as co-production, and it means building services around the person and the community and unlocking potential resources of time, money and expertise to combine with, not replace state support. It makes resources go much further by using them in different and new ways which strengthen individuals and communities. Through this Scheme we will make sure that the arrangements for working with the Third Sector, and for designing and funding public services, support a new approach to public services based on co-production.

The Welsh Government is committed to recognising and promoting the Third Sector. The Welsh Government values the Third Sector for the contribution which the Sector makes to the long term economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Wales, its people and communities.

The relationship between the Welsh Government and the Third Sector rests upon integrity, trust and mutual respect. The Welsh Government is committed to maturing this crucial relationship that has developed over a long period, for the benefit of people and communities in Wales.

The Welsh Government recognises the need to work in partnership with the Third Sector as well as with other public services and bodies including local authorities and local health boards. Effective partnerships must be based on an appreciation of each party’s distinctive contribution.

The Welsh Government expects the Third Sector to recognise the primacy of Welsh Ministers in formulating policy and legislation. In turn, the Welsh Government recognises the wide scope and diversity of voluntary activity across the whole spectrum of society and the contribution voluntary and community organisations and individual volunteers make to the economic, social, environmental, cultural and linguistic life of Wales.

The Welsh Government also recognises that Third Sector organisations are independent bodies which determine their own priorities and manage their own affairs, and that the Third Sector has an obligation to represent the interests of its constituents. It is also acknowledged that Third Sector organisations operate within the principles upon which they are founded. They are accountable to their members and the individuals and communities with whom they work, and to regulatory bodies such as the Charity Commission.

On the basis of this mutual understanding of each others’ roles, it is recognised that the Third Sector is a key partner in formulating and delivering many aspects of public policy, and as such it should develop strong partnerships with both national and local government.

In terms of practical working, the relationship between Welsh Government (and the bodies for which it is responsible) and the Third Sector is multi-faceted and includes:

• the sharing of views and information, through early identification and consultation processes, on the impact on the Third Sector of policy and future implementation and the contribution the Third Sector can make
• joint planning, design, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and schemes where there is Third Sector involvement
• funding across a wide variety of policy areas, directly and indirectly
• a shared interest in the way that wider public services interact with the Third Sector

Within this complexity it is possible to identify 3 distinct, overlapping spheres of interest that define and structure the Welsh Government’s interest in, and support for, the Third Sector:

1. Stronger communities: the way most people make a voluntary contribution to the vibrancy and regeneration of their communities, provide care and help build people’s confidence and skills; and the opportunities the Third Sector creates for employment and local enterprise.
2. Better policy: the knowledge and expertise the sector offers through its front-line experience to help shape policies, procedures and services.
3. Better public services: the innovative and transforming role the Sector can play in making public services reach more people and become more sensitive to their needs.

There are a number of cross cutting themes which impact across the Welsh Government and the exercise of its functions, to which the Third Sector is committed and makes a vital contribution. Accordingly the same themes will figure prominently in the manner in which the Welsh Government exercises its functions in relation to the Third Sector.

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is the process that helps us make better decisions that ensure that we maximise the long term social, economic and environmental wellbeing of Wales. It provides a focus not only on current generations but on future generations and on the sort of legacy we want to leave for our children and grandchildren. Sustainable development is a central organising principle for the Welsh Government. We are committed to ensuring that sustainable development is also central to public services across Wales and that it transforms the way in which decisions are made. Our Welsh account of sustainable development embodies our values of fairness, social justice and respect for our environment.

The Third Sector has a long history in helping to embed sustainable development as a normal way of working in Wales providing support and opportunities for people to take practical action towards sustainable, resilient communities. Examples include the numerous community-owned initiatives generating triple-line outcomes such as growing and surplus food projects; community transport; energy efficiency and carbon footprint programmes; nature and heritage conservation; and the emerging asset transfer ventures to Third Sector organisations involving land, housing stock or renewable energy generating surpluses for community investment. Many of these projects are underpinned by the awareness that community cohesion and prosperity cannot be achieved without attention to Sustainable Development principles and the engagement and partnership that this entails.

Welsh language

The Welsh Government believes that the Welsh language is an integral part of Wales’ identity and is committed to creating a truly bilingual Wales, where people can live their lives through English, Welsh or both languages. The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 confirmed the Welsh language’s official status in Wales and established the role of the Welsh Language Commissioner. The Commissioner’s principal role is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language. The Commissioner will also monitor and enforce compliance with standards in so far as they apply to categories of bodies who form part of the Third Sector. The Welsh Government’s Language Strategy, A living language: a language for living, and its Welsh Language Scheme, both look to increase the mainstreaming of the Welsh language into all aspects of the Welsh Government’s work, as well as increasing the use of Welsh in the communities of Wales.

The Third Sector’s contribution is vital to the survival and growth of Welsh as a community language as it provides opportunities for people to volunteer and provides voluntary services in Welsh, as well as celebrating the language and its associated traditions. Welsh Government believes that there should be equal opportunities for service users to use the Welsh and English languages in the Third Sector; that there are Welsh speaking volunteers across Wales and that the Welsh language becomes mainstreamed throughout all policy developments and funding allocations.

Equality and diversity

The Equality Act 2010 and related Welsh specific public sector equality duties regulations impose duties on relevant Welsh authorities including the requirement to publish equality objectives. Authorities are required to publish a statement which sets out the steps taken in order to achieve each equality objective and also to monitor the progress of achieving those objectives. The Welsh Government wants to create a fair society free from discrimination, harassment and victimisation with cohesive and inclusive communities. Its Equality Objectives (that sit within a Strategic Equality Plan) will help ensure that public services and employment are fair, accessible, responsive to people’s needs, and that communities are inclusive. People should not be treated less favourably because of their gender, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy and maternity, being married or in a civil partnership, being a disabled person, or being transgender. These objectives underpin the Welsh Government’s work, ensuring a joined up approach to achieving better outcomes for the people of Wales.

The Third Sector’s contribution is vital to advancing equality and diversity, supporting people to challenge unfair treatment, and helping public bodies to improve the ways in which they meet their equalities duties. It provides advice and advocacy services, cultural activities, specialist support, and opportunities for minority and disadvantaged groups to organise, helping to build a more inclusive society.

Tackling poverty

The Welsh Government wants to tackle poverty through everything it does. Collectively, Welsh Ministers are determined to leave no stone unturned in finding ways of preventing and reducing poverty in Wales. The Tackling Poverty Action Plan (2013) signals that, right across Government, resources will be used to help those most in need and seek to prevent future generations experiencing poverty. There are a range of programmes that enable us to reach into the communities most affected by poverty, and join up what we do across Government to help the people living there. Welsh Government is committed to do more to help improve the educational attainment of children from low income families; to help more people into jobs, especially in households where no-one has a paid job; and to meaningfully reduce the number of young people who are not earning or learning in Wales. The Welsh Government will work to ensure that all people, regardless of how poor they are or how deprived the area they live in, have equal and fair access to essential services. We believe that if progress can be made in these 4 key areas, then this will be having a transformative impact on the lives of many people across Wales.

The Third Sector makes a significant contribution to tackling the causes and effects of poverty, through helping people to maximise benefits, to manage money and debts, housing and employment advice, employment and training schemes, foodbanks and other community services. For example independent advice providers continue to provide independent advice to people across Wales to thousands of people to mitigate the impact of welfare reform by ensuring that benefits are claimed, individuals and families have the maximum income available to them, avoid homelessness and to help them both manage their money and cope with their debts.