On Wednesday 4 November, we welcomed third sector organisations, public services and wider partners to the Beacon Arts Centre for our 30th anniversary conference.
Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Rona Dougall, the day provided an opportunity to reflect on three decades of supporting Inverclyde's third sector, share experiences and consider the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Across the discussions, one message stood out: the future of our sector depends on how we work together, whose voices influence decisions and how we support organisations to respond to the needs of their communities.
Looking Ahead Together
What needs to change now to support stronger communities over the next 30 years? Dr Jim McCormick, Chief Executive of The Robertson Trust, put poverty, inequality and lasting change at the heart of his morning keynote. His message on collaboration: find common ground, agree where we can work together and bring each organisation’s strengths to that work.
These themes continued in a panel discussion with Dr McCormick, Kate Rocks and Helen Rainey, which considered the future of funding, partnership working and the importance of community voices in decision-making.
As Helen Rainey reflected:
“We can work in silos and get the job done, but when we start reaching out in bigger teams, that’s when miracles happen.”
The morning workshops explored what collaboration and participation look like in practice.
Helen Rainey and Matt Swarbrick explored leadership approaches built on shared responsibility and stronger partnerships. Through live polls and discussion, participants considered the qualities of effective leadership and how organisations can encourage leadership at every level.
Judith Hewitt explored how organisations can develop youth-led volunteering opportunities that give young people greater ownership and involvement. The session highlighted different pathways into volunteering, including opportunities for young people with additional support needs and placements linked to formal qualifications.
At lunchtime, our Community Link Worker Team demonstrated how the service connects people with community support, reflecting on its development and impact since launching as a pilot in 2017.
Reimagining What Comes Next
Jamie Cooke, Executive Director of Inclusion International, delivered the afternoon keynote that brought the focus to the concept of transformative post-industrial communities.
“People are the most important infrastructure of any place,” Jamie said. “We need to move beyond regeneration as recovery and instead start thinking about it as how we can create something new for the future.”
An afternoon panel with Jamie Cooke, Neale McIlvanney and Matt Swarbrick built on these ideas, exploring how Inverclyde can draw on its people, identity and strengths to become a place where more people choose to live, work and build their futures.
The afternoon workshops offered further opportunities to explore community involvement and the changing tools available to organisations.
Shumela Ahmed-Poole explored how organisations can share power with communities through meaningful involvement in service design and evaluation, including the importance of trauma-informed approaches and valuing lived experience in our own staff teams.
The parallel workshop brought a practical focus to AI and what it could mean for third sector organisations. Paul Brooks drew on a year spent building working AI systems inside Inverclyde charities, demonstrating tools for data management, sourcing funding and day-to-day administration, encouraging participants to consider practical applications relevant to their own organisations.
Celebrating the People and Partnerships Behind 30 Years
Alongside the discussions about the future, our anniversary exhibition provided an opportunity to reflect on 30 years of CVS Inverclyde and the organisations, volunteers and partnerships that have contributed to our work.
The exhibition highlighted how the third sector has developed over that time and the important role local organisations continue to play in responding to community needs.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Charlene Elliott, our Chief Executive Officer, said:
“Over the past 30 years, we've seen the important contribution third sector organisations make to communities across Inverclyde. That work continues to evolve as they respond to changing needs, increasing demand and ongoing financial pressures.
“Our 30th anniversary was a chance to talk openly about what needs to change so the sector can thrive. We want to build on these conversations to help create the conditions for a resilient third sector that can continue to support Inverclyde’s communities.”
Turning Conversation into Action
The conference closed with an interactive session asking delegates to reflect on what they could do differently within their own organisations and what changes they would like to see from funders, public services and government.
Discussions throughout the session reflected the challenges and opportunities facing Inverclyde’s third sector, with participants highlighting the need for genuine partnership working and for communities to have a stronger voice in the decisions that affect them.
As we look ahead, we want to build on these conversations through our ongoing work to strengthen the sector and support local communities.
Thank You for Being Part of the Day
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to our 30th anniversary conference. The experiences and perspectives shared throughout the day helped shape discussions about the future of Inverclyde's third sector.
We're also grateful to our speakers, panellists, workshop contributors and exhibitors for sharing their experience and insight with delegates. Our thanks also go to Louise Gault Photography, Inverclyde Ukrainian Club, Purdie's Cake and the Beacon Arts Centre team for their contributions to the event.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and working together to support Inverclyde's communities in the years ahead.