About T3SC
Who are we?
Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition (T3SC) is the lead support and development agency for the voluntary and community sectors in Tameside. Established in 2001, T3SC is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. T3SC is the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) in Tameside.
T3SC's Impact
T3SC works in a number of different areas including supporting voluntary and community groups with running their group and applying for funding and giving Tameside's communities a voice through the networks, amongst other things.
Download some examples of T3SC's work and the impact it has had on Tameside's groups and communities.
Mission Statement
To build a strong, clear and independent voice for the third sector in Tameside, through developing the capacity and accountability of individuals and groups and of the sector as a whole.
What is the Third Sector?
The Third Sector includes voluntary and community groups, self-help groups, faith groups, resident groups, non-profit organisations such as community businesses, co-operatives and credit unions.
Values Statement
Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition:
- Embraces and celebrates the diversity of the individuals, groups and communities in Tameside that it serves
- Believes that equality of opportunity is a fundamental right, and will work proactively to put this into practice
- Is working to an empowerment model: it will seek to maintain a delicate balance between helping groups and maintaining their independence.
- Believes in the equality of all the sector (public, corporate and third sectors)
- Believes that preference should be given to working collaboratively and in partnership with agencies in all sectors to maximise the benefits to the groups that it supports.
- Will seek to avoid competing for scarce resources with the groups that it supports, but recognises that it will need to access resources in order to develop and sustain its activities.
- Values the contribution which volunteers make to society.
Core Functions of a CVS
Many local infrastructure organisations are referred to or describe
themselves as a 'CVS' (Council for Voluntary Service) even if they use a
different name, such as Voluntary Action or Voluntary Sector Resource
Centre. Most CVS carry out what have become known as the five core
functions, as set out below. NAVCA's Performance Standards and Quality
Award are based on these.
The traditional five
core functions of a CVS are:
Services and support
CVS promote the effectiveness of local voluntary and community groups by
providing them with a range of services. These may include access to
basic facilities, such as meeting rooms, photocopiers and ICT equipment
or more involved services such as community accountancy and employment
advice. CVS also support local groups through regular newsletters,
training, funding advice and specialist services. To
find out more on what support T3SC offers see our
Supporting Community Groups page
Liaison
As a focal point for the local voluntary and community sector, CVS
encourage networking between individuals and groups within the sector,
and between local groups and the statutory and private sectors. This
allows local groups to learn from one another, establish contacts and
work more effectively. CVS also help different communities to organise
their own networking activity. See our
Networks page
Representation
With government encouraging involvement of voluntary and community
groups in shaping and delivering services, CVS enable the views of local
groups to be represented. For example, many CVS run voluntary and
community sector forums which provide an opportunity for local groups to
put forward their views on national and local policies.
See our Networks page
Development work
Over the years, the local voluntary and community sector has
pioneered some of the essential public services that we now take for
granted. Child protection and care for the elderly, for example, had
their origins in, and were developed by, the voluntary sector. This
tradition has continued into the 21st century, and today CVS take the
lead in identifying gaps in service provision and work with groups to
develop new and innovative services to meet these needs.
Strategic partnerships
CVS work in partnership with local government and other statutory
agencies to shape the delivery of services. CVS play a key role in
empowering local groups to take part in partnerships and are directly
involved in a wide range of regeneration, neighbourhood renewal, health
and social care, learning and other government initiatives. Strategic
partnerships may be sub-regional, district wide or neighbourhood. They
may cover several issues or have a particular focus.
Annual Review 2007-08
Meet the team
T3SC would like to thank
our funders:
T3SC Registered
Charity no:1094744
A Company
Limited by Guarantee no: 4332858
T3SC St Michaels
Court, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6XN