The commitment to end child poverty is sparking a local call for third sector investment

The First Minister’s commitment to ending child poverty in Scotland has been welcomed by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway (TSDG), calling for investment in the sector’s work in communities.

In his statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, First Minister John Swinney made it clear that ending child poverty is the government’s most important goal.

In response, Alan Webb, chief executive of TSDG, said it was to help achieve the ambitious target Scotland needed to recognize the potential and strengths of communities.

This should work in conjunction with national actions such as: maximizing family income, including increasing Scottish Child Benefit; meeting commitments regarding the well-being and support of the whole family; and supporting access to sustainable, family-friendly and well-paid work.

The CEO said the third sector had provided many vital services and support to local people, sharing insightful and trusting relationships with them. As a result, organizations in this sector have been an incredible tool for communities to “own, adapt and change” to meet their own needs.

He added that public services should complement what communities can achieve on their own, with the right investment and support. Now, as public services face financial constraints, it is time to take a different look at their role in supporting and enabling, rather than maintaining, unsustainable service models.

Alan said: “The third sector in Dumfries and Galloway is made up of almost 2,000 organizations, the majority of which are local community groups. Combined with hundreds of small, medium and large charities, the reach of our sector is wide and the everyday impact on people’s lives is often undiscovered and unappreciated by those outside our local communities.”

It is time to maximize the shared potential and opportunities of the third sector and public services, but this required a shift in thinking, not just reform of public services.

In its newly released prospectus, TSDG set out its updated purpose to support people and communities in the region to thrive through a strong third sector, equal partnerships and ensuring equality, dignity, belonging and justice for all.

Alan said the third sector needed appropriate, long-term and sustainable investment and the trust it could provide.

This would require a shift in perspective to see the sector as an equal partner rather than secondary to others, and shifting power to where it had the greatest impact on challenges such as tackling inequalities, connectivity, health and wellbeing, the local economy and climate action.

“That’s why we’ve been clearer about our purpose and impact as we set new ambitions,” said Alan. “We believe they are also key to helping the First Minister realize the Government’s ambitions.”

Chair of Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, John Dougan, added: “We invite the First Minister to visit us here in Dumfries and Galloway and see first-hand the amazing work being done in our communities across the region. “