Collaborating with the Third Sector

Third sector organisations include:

• Charities
• Voluntary and community organisations
• Social enterprises and cooperatives
• Think tanks and private research institutes

Typically, third sector organisations are:

Non-governmental

Although they often work with or  alongside government agencies, and may receive government funding or commissions, third sector organisations are independent from the government.

Non-profit

Third sector organisations raise funds  and generate financial surpluses in order to invest in social,  environmental, or cultural objectives. They do not seek to make profits as  an end in its own right.

Values-driven

Third sector organisations pursue  specific goals which are often aligned with particular social and  political perspectives. They may be associated with or work with political  parties, but a political party is not a third sector organisation.

Third sector groups look to achieve their aims through a wide range of activities, seeking to bring policy change about in many different ways, all of which offer potential opportunities for academic collaboration or input:

Advocating

• Raise issues, concerns and needs for a specific user group, point of view or a general public interest that is not yet covered by legislation
• Guarantee that consideration is given to the needs and interests of stakeholders when drafting policy
• Help influence decision makers before a vote
• Monitor existing policy for the intended beneficiaries
• Lobby for renewal or improvement of existing policy on behalf of the public

Information and Awareness Building

• Share findings with the public authorities, involve and represent members, users and the public
• Listen, react and inform
• Inform / raise awareness of the benefits or disadvantages and impact of policy

Expertise and Advice

• Bring experts with knowledge on a specific topic
• Provide analysis and research to identify current and future needs in society
• Provide analyses and research on issues under consideration and inform and influence decision makers
• Gather evidence or research on the policy’s impact
• Commission research and analysis to identify gaps in current policy and provide rationale for reformulation.

Innovation

• Provide solutions through the introduction of new approaches, models/analysis and practical solutions which bring benefits to specific user groups.
• Develop new approaches to tackle policy issues

Service Provision

• Key actor in implementing policy initiatives, often carrying the main responsibility for delivery
• Key actor in creating alternative or non-existing services for a specific user group
• Monitor the effects of the programme in terms of quality, sustainability, effectiveness and provide real examples
• Identify obstacles and gather evidence to illustrate evolving needs that require a reformulation of policy

Watchdog Responsibility

• Ensure stakeholder concerns are considered and that the process is inclusive and transparent
• Follow the decision-making process, making sure it is democratic, transparent and optimally effective
• Assess and ensure that the policy is implemented as intended without harmful side-effects
• Monitor effects of the policy, to ensure that the intended objectives are achieved

The third sector also plays a hugely important coordinating role, acting as a broker between beneficiaries, professionals, local authorities, researchers, service providers, national policymakers and the general public, bridging the gap between different parts of the system.