Third Sector Employability Forum (TSEF) and TSEF Executive Group
TSEF has been established to provide an effective, collective,
voice for all third sector organisations operating in the field of
employability services. We aim to be an effective means of
communicating these views to both central and local government in
order to influence public services, how they are funded and how
they are commissioned.
Our starting point is that the needs and aspirations of those
seeking employment are paramount. Services need to be
designed in ways that are accessible to those seeking work, provide
the skills and support they need to get into work, and help them to
gain, or progress into, jobs which will lift them out of
poverty.
This is a diverse and complex group of people. Third
sector organisations in Scotland reflect this diversity and are
well placed to meet these needs. They are also well placed to
connect employability services into other relevant policy areas
such as health, housing and community justice.
TSEF has recently reviewed how it operates and has come together
with SCVO to create a new offering to the third sector and the
Scottish Government based on our respective strengths - the
knowledge within TSEF and its network on employability and the
capacity of SCVO to reach the whole of the third sector and to
liaise with government.
Our offer will be aimed at:
- Building an evidence base measuring the effectiveness of third
sector employability services;
- Influencing policy and practice at the national and local
level, especially the agenda for designing and implementing No One
Left Behind in an effective way;
- Being the place where the Scottish Government can go to hear
the views of the third sector and liaise with it on employability
policy and practice;
- Being an effective and trusted intermediary for third sector
organisations wanting to make their views known to government;
- Supporting and encouraging cultural and systems change within
the third sector and public services to meet the needs of those
seeking employment through;
- Better commissioning of services;
- Better collaboration and partnership;
- Collecting and disseminating best practice;
- Clearly communicating what we are doing and listening to the
voices of individuals and organisations in this field;
-
- Extending and developing our Base Camp site and reviving an
employability web site;
- Holding a small number of tailored events each year;
- Inviting organisations to sign up afresh to this network and
individuals to come forward for elections to a new TSEF Executive
Group at the end of 2020.
An Executive Group for the TSEF exists to represent the wider
TSEF on employability matters, provides support and advice and
works together with the wider forum to influence and contribute to
the employability agenda in Scotland.
Comments and suggestions are welcomed by the Executive Group and
you can contact members directly. Their details are provided
below.
Grant Alexander, Link Group (Interim Chair TSEF)
Blyth Deans, The Lennox Partnership
Lorna Forrest, SCVO
Louise Goodlad, Princes Trust Scotland
Rachel Le Noan, SCVO
Tommy McDade, Barnardo's
Leona McDermid, Aberdeen Foyer
Oxana MacGregor-Gunn, SAMH
Amelia Morgan, Venture Trust
Jamie Rutherford, ENABLE Scotland
Robin Turner, Routes To Work
The Group is also supported by Hazel Benza, Third Sector
secondee to The Scottish Government
We've worked in partnership to create a free online community of
interest where you can ask, answer, inform, share, discuss and
celebrate all matters employability. If you are a third sector
organisation in Scotland wishing to join please email rachel.lenoan@scvo.scot