Introduction

The 2012 Local Government Elections will take place in May next year, providing an opportunity for the Third Sector in Fife to collaborate on the development of a Manifesto. Our previous experience of developing a Manifesto for the 2007 Local Elections was that it provided a useful opportunity for the sector to engage with the various political groups, while encouraging voluntary, charitable, social enterprise and community organisations to come together and identify common issues for the future. Given the current climate the sector is operating in, and the particular challenges in relation to public sector finances, engagement with those involved in the political process is arguably more important than ever.

The Third Sector has connections with a huge range of people in Fife. Over 3,000 are employed in the sector, and recent figures (2010) show over 113,000 people are involved in voluntary activity. Add to this the ten of thousands of people who access services and activities run by the sector and it's clear that we have significant reach. At a time when there's lots of concern about the numbers of people taking part in the democratic process and using their vote, the sector has an opportunity to use its reach to encourage people to get involved and have their say.

Third Sector Strategy Group

The Strategy Group, formed this year for the first time, consists of twenty members drawn from a range of organisations (large and small) covering a diversity of thematic interests, and is evidence of the sector's increasing interest in working together to develop a stronger voice. See our pages on the Strategy Group for more information. As such, the group is ideally placed to lead the development of the Manifesto, with facilitation support from CVS Fife.

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Carole Patrick - Deputy Manager
CVS Fife, 23-27 Randolph Street, Buckhaven, Fife KY8 1AT
T: 01592 567001 - E: carole.patrick@cvsfife.org

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