Community Voices Speaking up for Argyll and the Isles
ABTSI is developing sector-wide strategy for Argyll & Bute’s third sector. This will guide how we support charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, and social enterprises across the area.
It is an exciting opportunity for local organisations and communities to help shape the future of third sector support in Argyll & Bute.
Project outputs
The project will deliver three main outputs:
- State of the Sector Report – a detailed, evidence-based understanding of current needs and priorities.
- Future Ambitions Report – capturing where local groups and organisations want to be in five years.
- ABTSI Strategy – outlining how ABTSI can best support and strengthen the sector to achieve these ambitions.
Our collaborative approach
The strategy is co-produced with local organisations to ensure the process reflects local voices, encourages collaboration in the sector and builds community wealth.
What’s happening
We are working with local communities through a series of activities to help develop the new strategy:
- Survey – collecting information on the challenges and successes with the sector. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/argyllbute
- Stakeholder and Advisory Group discussions – supporting and refining plans.
- Locally-led consultation activities – local organisations will lead engagement in their communities, supported with training and/or funding where needed.
- Focus groups – exploring survey findings in greater depth.
- Follow-up thematic surveys – developed and delivered with local organisations to test findings from the broader survey, with targeted questions.
- Stakeholder discussions – to test and expand findings.
- Final analysis and reporting – bringing together all information gathered to produce the strategy.
Your voice matters
This is an opportunity to help shape the future of third sector support in Argyll & Bute. We want the strategy development to be collaborative, ensuring that local voices are setting priorities. By getting involved, your organisation can directly influence the sector’s future, develop valuable skills, and help ensure that resources and support stay within our communities.
Opportunities to get involved
We are looking for people and organisations to help us deliver this work. If you are an organisation interested in being funded and supported to carry out community consultation and share local insights, please get in touch.
FAQs
Q: Who is leading the project?
A: SKS Scotland CIC is supporting ABTSI to develop the strategy
Q: How can I get involved?
A: Talk to us about becoming a Local Engagement Partner. Help us by spreading the word about the importance of this project and encouraging others to participate with surveys, consultations and other events.
Q: Will local organisations benefit from participating?
A: Yes. Your participation helps shape strategy. Partner organisations will all have the opportunity to benefit from training as part of the consultation and the potential to gather information via the surveys to benefit their local decision making. Supporting local organisations with funding to carry out this work ensures the resources remain local.
Q: What is the timeline?
A: The initial phase involves engagement and consultation planned throughout 2025. The final strategy is due for delivery in March 2026.
Q: Who can I contact for more information?
SKS Scotland – Claire Whyte – [email protected]
Argyll & Bute TSI – Takki Sulaiman – [email protected]