Third Sector Leeds

Third Sector Leeds (TSL) is the forum in Leeds that promotes, represents and advocates for not-for-profit groups and organisations (known as the ‘Third Sector’) in Leeds. We are the leading policy body that advocates for the third sector’s, values and interests in supporting Leeds’ Third Sector Strategy.

Who we are and what we do

We work closely with large organisations that set the direction for the city, including the Council and the Leeds Health and Care Partnership (the NHS) in order to: 

Influence decisions that affect the communities the third sector works with. 
Ensure that as many third sector organisations as possible, particularly the smaller ones, are involved in discussions on city-wide challenges and solutions. 
Ensure third sector organisations can access information and support to help them play their part in changing Leeds for the better.

Our current priorities

TSL seeks to highlight all of the third sectors strengths and respond to its key issues and challenges as they emerge and to be an assertive voice for the third sector making a clear case to partners. 

 TSL priorities are voted by Third Sector organisations, in line with the Leeds Third Sector Strategy (2023-2028), which can be found at the bottom of the page. TSL members voted for:

Commissioning and funding
Workforce
Inward Investment
Partnerships

Our members and how we work with you

Any Third Sector organisation in Leeds can be a member. We provide information to members about city decisions and seek feedback to help us to influence decisions in the interest of the third sector and communities. 

 All the word we do is open to any Third Sector organisation. To become a member sign up to our mailing list.

We have a yearly TSL annual conference where TSL members come together
We publish a regular bulletin that sets out the main discussions we’re involved in and how you can have your say. 
We produce briefing papers and reports on key areas of policy or practice or conduct surveys of our members to find out what you think. 
We’re always keen to come and talk to any organisation that wants to share their thoughts 1:1.

Making the Case for the Third Sector — Third Sector Partnership

Part of Third Sector Leeds’ job is to look at how people and organisations can work together to make the sector stronger. 

One way that we help to make the case for the third sector is through our membership of Third Sector Partnership. Third Sector Partnership is Chaired by the Council’s Executive Member for Citizens and Communities, and brings together Third Sector Representatives and senior leaders from the Council, NHS and Universities to agree priorities for change and deliver against them. 

Third Sector Leeds has five places on Third Sector Partnership, with five further places for third sector advocates offered to third sector people with particular expertise or skills. 

How Third Sector works

Third Sector Leeds is a formal network of organisations with an interest in sustaining and developing a thriving third sector in Leeds. 
 As a formal partnership, we follow a clear set of rules and make sure that all of our work is open to scrutiny by our members and the public. 
TSL Terms of Reference are its rules. 

They outline: 

What TSL exists to achieve
What it does to achieve its aims
The behaviours expected of Leadership Group members 
How the Leadership Group directs TSL’s work 
How people become members of Leadership Group

The Terms of Reference are reviewed regularly to ensure that still meet the needs of our members. 

How Third Sector works

TSL has a Leadership Group who meet regularly to discuss the key issues in the city and share their ideas about how improvements could be made. 

Leadership Group members all work or volunteer for Third Sector organisations (often in senior positions).

When they ‘wear their Leadership Group hat’ members represent areas of interest (e.g. advice giving, young people or health) and use their knowledge of the wider third sector to suggest the way forward. 

Leadership Group members are nominated by city forums with particular interests (e.g. Forum Central the health and social care network nominates a Leadership Group member to represent Health). Where no forum exists, positions are advertised and TSL members vote representatives into positions. 
 
Third Sector Leeds has an independent Chair who acts in the interests of the third sector in Leeds. When TSL needs a new Chair the post is advertised and selected by interview. 

 The current Chair of TSL is Minoti Parikh.

TSL’s recent activity

View the recent documents TSL has produced.

This will give you a good idea of what TSL is working on and some of the key issues facing third sector organisations in Leeds.

Visit recent activity

Documents you can Download

TSL Leadership Group keeps a written record of its meetings. We publish our minutes so that members can find out the issues we’ve discussed and the action we’ve decided to take. 

 If you would like to find out more about TSL contact:
paula.chatterjee@val.org.uk