What is the Third Sector Provider Forum?

Section 16 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 says that local authorities must support strong care and support services in local communities. This includes helping not-for-profit organisations and making sure people who use services, and carers, can help shape them.This means:

1. Supporting social enterprises to provide care, support, and early help services.

2. Supporting co-operatives to provide care, support, and early help services.

3. Involving people who use services, and carers, in designing and running services.

4. Making sure care and support services are available from third sector organisations.

Overall, Section 16 supports a range of care services that are community-based and shaped with the people who use them.

About the Gwent Third Sector Provider Forum

The Gwent Third Sector Provider Forum brings together commissioners, third sector organisations, and partners. The aim is to improve local care and support, with a strong focus on well-being, prevention, early help, and community-based services.

The Forum helps meet the duties in Section 16 by creating space to:

1. Support the growth of social enterprises, co-operatives, and other not-for-profit care providers.

2. Share ways to involve people who use services and carers in planning and delivering services.

3. Improve the availability and long-term future of care and support services across Gwent.

4. Identify shared challenges, opportunities, and funding or partnership options.

Why Join?

The Forum meets every three months and is run jointly by the Gwent Regional Partnership Board, GAVO, and TVA. It gives commissioners and providers a chance to:

• Share useful information

• Work together on common goals

• Build links and partnerships

What is on the agenda?

1. Improving Care: Making services better for people

2. Balancing the Care Market: Making sure there is a good range of care services available.

Who should attend?

The Forum is for, local and regional leaders and all care and support providers in the area. This includes social enterprises, co-opratives, user-led organisations and third sector organisations. It is also open to organisations that are not yet care providers but want to become one

What are the benefits?

The forum is a place to

1. Talk openly about challenges, risks, and opportunities

2. Learn from others

3. Share good practise

4. Work together to improve services

The aim is to support services that meet the goals of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act.

Get involved

There is also a steering group that helps plan the Forum meetings. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact: Hannah Dean