About Us

Blackpool Third Sector Strategic Partnership
or TSSP for short!

We are the strategic body for the Third Sector in Blackpool.  We are commited to building a world class Third Sector for the town, that fulfils its full potential.  We are here to create a bridge between the Public sector and the Third Sector.

We have an open membership and a focus on change with a "doing" attitude..

What is a World Class Third Sector?

- Clear values that inform policy and practice
- Valued and responsible independence
- Both inward and outward facing
- Outcomes are focused rather than process driven
- Excellance is the standard for goverance
- Trained and qualified staff as the norm
- Co-operation rather than competition

The Third Sector in Blackpool

- Is diverse there are approximately 350 Organisations
- There are three types of Organisation
   Those that primarily deliver services, those that primarily represent,
   and those that are primarily self-help

Our Strategic Aim

Our aim is to create a World Class Third Sector for Blackpool, and Third Sector that delivers the kind of services, support and representation the Communities of Blackpool need and deserve.

Specific Aims

- To ensure excellence as a standard for Leadership and Governance
   within the Blackpool Third Sector Organisations.
- To ensure that Blackpool Third Sector has a well trained management
   workforce that meets the need of the sector both now and in the 
   future.
- To make volunteering in Blackpool a positive, constuctive and 
   meaningful experience.
- To ensure that the Blackpool Third Sector responds speedily and
   appropriately to changes in legislation and policy that affect its
   members.
- To ensure that contracting and commissioning with the Public Sector
   is managed in an effective, efficent and transparent way within the
   Third Sector.
- To increase incidents of partnership working and the development of
   consortia within the Third Sector of Blackpool.
- To build Civil Renewal into the fabric of Blackpool's Communities.
- To improve effective communication and marketing that serves the
   Third Sector and the wider economy.
- To ensure that all the Third Sector activity in Blackpool work towards
   equality and inclusion in its processes.
- To ensure that all Voluntary Sector and Faith Organisations are
   properly represented through the Blackpool Strategic Partnership and
   Neighbourhood forums.

How are the specific aims delivered?

The workhouse of the Third Sector Strategic Partnership is our workgroups
- Communications and Marketing
- Volunteering
- Commissioning and Consortia
- Leadership


Key milestones for Blackpool Third Sector Partnership

February 2009
Interim steering group meets for first time - completed

March 2009
TSSP launched at the Winter Gardens - completed

April/May 2009
Initial Working Group Meetings - completed

September 2009
Initial Working Group strategies to be completed
Prepare a "State of the Third Sector" report

November 2009
Third Sector Trade Fair - 4th November Blackpool Football Club

March 2010
State of the Third Sector Conference

September 2010
Review of the Workshop Strategies