Edinburgh’s Third Sector Reference group is looking for new members to shape decisions, amplify community voices and create positive change.

The Third Sector Reference Group is a place for sharing ideas and insights from our sector to help city leaders make better policy and investment decisions. The group aims to harness the power, knowledge and impact of our sector and to take that directly to the heart of decision-making to help influence policy, strategy and service design that affects communities across the city.

TSRG Terms of Reference 2026 (pdf) 

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EVOC held their 156th AGM at Meadowbank Stadium on Thu 29 Jan 2026.

It provided a good opportunity to meet peers from across the third sector in Edinburgh.  The members heard of the progress that the organisation has made over the last 18 months and a view to future priorities and plans.  The audited accounts for 2024-25 were presented and reflected the challenging time in 2024.

Board Changes

Su Millar stepped down from EVOC’s board and joined Gary Dewar, John Hinton, Glen Liddall who left the board since the last AGM.

George Bellamy was appointed to the board, bringing his experience from member organisation Change Mental Health.

The appointment of five new trustees during 2025 was also approved. They are: Caroline Rodgers, Craig Shepherd, Diego Quiroz, Isabel Garden and Roderick Wylie.

A new management structure has been put in place with Roderick Wylie as the new convenor.

Daniel Fisher continues as vice convenor and Edinburgh TSI representative, Ran Majumder is taking on external relations, and Isabel Garden is leading on people and culture for the board.

You can find the slides for the AGM here.

As part of the Third Sector Reference Group’s ongoing work to redefine the relationship between the Third Sector and the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB), the Change Management Group* (a partnership of Third Sector and EHSCP)  number of events designed to support the development of a new approach to EIJB Commissioning were delivered.

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EVOC has supported the submission of two responses to the EIJB Draft Strategy Consultation.

The first is a collective response that presents views from a range of voluntary sector organisations that engage in health and social care across Edinburgh. These perspectives were gathered through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. The priorities, concerns, and recommendations were collated, summarised and submitted on behalf of the third sector by EVOC.

Read the response

The second is on behalf of Edinburgh’s TSI and the Third Sector Reference Group. It recognises the challenges of rising demand and financial pressures on the health and social care system in Edinburgh and highlights the need to focus on three priorities:

• Creating and sustaining healthy communities as the common purpose for the Plan
• Maximise strategic partner collaboration in shaping a City Prevention Programme
• Maximise community and local participation in health and social care.

Read the response

In response to the EIJB consultation inviting people and organisations to have a say on the draft Strategic Plan for 2025 – 28, the Third Sector Reference Group is working on a contribution on behalf of our sector. This is another in a series of actions in light of the future funding crisis third sector organisations are facing across the city.

Download the draft Strategic Plan

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