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.
Our Approach
We work closely with large organisations that set the direction for the city, including Leeds City 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 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:
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
Membership and how we work with you
Anyone who works or volunteers for a third sector organisation in Leeds can be a TSL 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.
To become a TSL 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.
Advocacy at 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 to deliver against them.
Third Sector Leeds has five places on Third Sector Partnership, with five further places for third sector advocates which are offered to third sector leaders with expertise or insight from a particular community of interest.
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 to deliver against them.
Third Sector Leeds has five places on Third Sector Partnership, with five further places for third sector advocates which are offered to third sector leaders with expertise or insight from a particular community of interest.
TSL Terms of Reference
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.
Read the TSL Terms of Reference which set out our rules, including:
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.
Read the TSL Terms of Reference which set out our rules, including:
- What TSL exists to achieve,
- How we achieve our aims
- The behaviours expected of Leadership Group members
- How the Leadership Group directs TSL’s work
- How people become members of Leadership Group
Our Terms of Reference is reviewed regularly to ensure that it still meets the needs of our membership.
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.
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 Leadership Group
The TSL Leadership Group meets regularly to discuss 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 an area of interest (e.g. advice giving, young people or health) and use their knowledge of the wider third sector to suggest the way forward.
TSL Leadership Group members are nominated by city forums with particular areas of focus e.g. health, housing etc. Where no forum exists, positions are advertised and TSL members vote representatives into positions.
Leadership Group members all work or volunteer for third sector organisations (often in senior positions). When they ‘wear their Leadership Group hat’ members represent an area of interest (e.g. advice giving, young people or health) and use their knowledge of the wider third sector to suggest the way forward.
TSL Leadership Group members are nominated by city forums with particular areas of focus e.g. health, housing etc. Where no forum exists, positions are advertised and TSL members vote representatives into positions.
TSL Leadership Group Representation
Known as the ‘bubble diagram’, this shows the networks, forums, and areas of interest represented in the TSL Leadership Group.
Meeting minutes
TSL Leadership Group keeps a written record of its meetings. We publish our minutes so that members can follow the issues we’ve discussed and the actions or decisions we’ve made.
TSL Round Ups
The TSL Round Up is a newsletter summarising the key issues that have been discussed and how TSL plans to take things forward. The Round Up gives you an overview of what the issue is and the action you can take to help the third sector respond.
Event reports
After every event that it runs TSL produces a report that provides an overview of information shared by keynote speakers, a summary of roundtable discussions and recommendations for next steps.
Reports, briefs, consultation responses and statements
As well as regular Round Up and Event Reports, TSL produces a range of other documents which help explain what’s happening, set out what we want to happen, or influence the direction the city takes:
- Statements set out in simple terms how TSL will play its part in tackling an issue.
- Reports are longer documents (often with a shorter summary) that sum up research that we’ve undertaken and make recommendations.
- Briefs aim to help our members plan for tackling an issue or specific challenge. They generally describe the challenge (based on our research) and then suggest tips for organisations to develop their practice.
- TSL often responds to public consultations, making the case for the third sector and saying how we think things need to change.
