Appeal from third sector
A groundbreaking campaign that aims to secure greater support for third sector organisations across South Lanarkshire launched this week.
‘Keep The Beat Alive’ hopes to raise awareness about the impact of the third sector across the region, and to advocate for change amid the “immense, unsustainable pressures” organisations are facing.
It is a multi-platform project that focuses on a major new impact report, films, an animation and a range of free resources that charities, social enterprises and community groups can use to promote a vital message.
Third sector organisations are often considered the ‘heartbeat’ of communities, closest to the people and essential for communities to thrive.
The campaign is led by South Lanarkshire’s third sector interface, Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLan)
Steven Sweeney, VASLan CEO said: “This is a campaign that has been made here in South Lanarkshire, by a wide range of different organisations. They have helped articulate a very clear message that the status quo has to go. Yes, the work they undertake is extraordinary, but their energy and capacity to continue to deliver more and more is unsustainable.
“And so we’re calling for a greater acknowledgement of the value of the third sector – locally, but especially nationally. We appreciate there’s no pot of gold, but that doesn’t mean funding can’t be better used, more flexibility. Finally, we don’t think the relationship between the third sector and public sector is strong enough.”
This campaign has been funded by Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLan), but is co-produced by the third sector organisations it is helping.
Organisations like Larkhall & District Volunteer Group (LDVG), Blantyre Soccer Academy and Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau provide vital services.
Larkhall & District Volunteer Group is a voluntary organisation that provides a range of support to meet the needs of their community.
Blantyre Soccer Academy’s vision is to build a better Blantyre one person at a time, mainly through football-related activities and programmes.
Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau offer free, impartial and confidential advice in the areas of employment, housing, benefits and legal matters.
However, despite their critical role, organisations face ever more significant challenges, including unstable funding. This is being exacerbated by many years of austerity and, more recently, the cost of living crisis.
Sandra McCrory, charity manager of LDVG, said: “Being involved in the campaign has offered us an opportunity to showcase the great work LDVG does.
“The pressure to fill gaps left by public sector cuts has increased since Covid, and we now find ourselves oversubscribed and underfunded.
“We offer mainly preventative or earlyintervention services, with a proven track record of positively impacting on mental and physical health and wellbeing – all of which reduces the pressure on public services. What happens when we are not here?”
Jimmy Whelan, chairperson of Blantyre Soccer Academy, said: “We as an organisation are quite fortunate to have over 90 volunteers working with us and when converted into monetary terms this equates to over £555,000 per year invested in our local community.
“We struggle financially year in year out and hope that the ‘Keep The Beat Alive’ campaign can bring to light the need for available funds distributed more openly and transparently, not just for South Lanarkshire but for the whole of the third sector groups across the country.”
Jennifer Howdle, manager of Hamilton CAB, said: “Hamilton CAB got involved with Keep the Beat Alive as we want the vital work of the third sector in South Lanarkshire to be truly recognised and supported.
“We hope that this campaign brings about the help and support the third sector needs to continue our essential work within South Lanarkshire.”
The ‘Keep The Beat Alive’ campaign focuses on three key ‘asks’ to ensure that these organisations can survive and continue to serve South Lanarkshire:
■ Recognise our value – a greater acknowledgement of the third sector’s indispensable role in the community, urging both the public and other sectors to appreciate and celebrate their contributions
■ Smarter funding required – more intelligent, strategic funding solutions that will provide the stability third sector organisations need to plan and deliver their services
■ Better co-working with the public sector – enhancing collaboration between the third sector and public sector should improve the outcomes for people across South Lanarkshire, and beyond
For more information about the ‘Keep The Beat Alive’ campaign, including details on how you can get involved and support these organisations, visit keepthebeatalive.org.uk