On Wednesday April 24th the Sheffield Third Sector Assembly (TSA) met for it’s last formal meeting at Voluntary Action Sheffield chaired by Ian Drayton (CEO SOAR)
The ‘TSA ‘ is nearing the end of its partnership with Sheffield City Council. It was initially set up to support representation of the voluntary and community sector across the City in various partnerships and to improve communications. Cutbacks in Council funding are ensuring that local organisations are having to review their role and purpose and funding for organising the sectors voice will end in June.
So what is next for the Third Sector Assembly in Sheffield?
Is there still a will in the city to share decision making on public services?
Should we change our game and campaign on poverty and challenge the austerity programme instead or as well?
Who can organise the voluntary and community voice if the TSA goes?
Where will we get funding from?
An example of how the TSA has had influence Food Poverty is now on the agenda of priorities for the city – organised by the TSA and it’s partners Fare Share Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Housing.
Food Poverty in 2013 is scandalous and this will increase as benefit cuts bite hard, the churches are responding but the Local Authority is reluctant to create more food banks or release resources to help coordinate a strategic approach in our poorest communities. There is need everywhere and yet there is food surplus and waste. Will the City Executives take the lead or do we leave it to the Bishops to look after the poor?
It’s taken us nearly 30 years to get this far, with the voluntary and community sector embedded in all the funding and regeneration programmes that have benefited Sheffield, it’s citizens, it’s public realm. There are now some big questions to answer if we are still to make our presence felt and stand with our communities and service users.
Kate Housden
Kate is currently Vice Chair of the Third Sector Assembly and has led the work on Food poverty as Fairness Commissioner for Sheffield. Contact Kmhousden@gmail.com
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