What is the third sector?
The third sector is a term used to describe organisations that are neither in the public nor private sector.
Our sector includes organisations that have a social or environmental purpose – organisations that exist to improve the lives of people and communities in Dumfries and Galloway.
It includes voluntary and community organisations (such as charities), social enterprises, co-operatives, credit unions, and mutuals, and all the people who volunteer and work within.
An organisation is generally regarded as being in the third sector if it:
- Has a positive community purpose. Our sector is “value driven”, which means that we are motivated by a desire to achieve social goals by improving the wellbeing and prosperity of people and communities.
- Is run by an unpaid voluntary committee or board of trustees/directors.
- Is not set up to distribute profit to private shareholders and reinvests any surpluses generated in pursuit of their goals. In many cases, organisations in our sector need to make profits to be financially stable but “not-for-personal-profit”.
- Is not run by or affiliated to a political party or a statutory body of government – an important part of the history and culture of our sector.
The Scottish Government is committed to the development of an enterprising third sector in Scotland. Further information on the Scottish Government and the third sector.
We highlight what the third sector is; how it impacts upon the lives of individuals and communities in Dumfries and Galloway; how it impacts on the strength and sustainability of our economy; and how it can do more when its role is recognised and supported.
We represent the interests of the sector by lobbying opinion-formers and decision-makers in the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway is part of the Third Sector Interface (TSI) network, funded by the Scottish Government. TSIs provide a single point of access for support and advice for the third sector within local areas.
The TSI network aims to demonstrate how our work across Scotland is transforming lives, communities, and meeting the National Performance Framework and key legislative aims of the Scottish Government.
This includes tackling societal inequalities, community empowerment, inclusive growth, increasing volunteering and citizenship, and enabling the integration of health and social care.