 The final item of business is a member's business debate on motion 11864, in the name of Kate Forbes, on the economic contribution of the third sector in Scotland. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and I would invite those members who would wish to speak in the debate to please press the request-to-speak buttons. I call on Kate Forbes to open the debate around seven minutes, please. Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. I think that everybody in this chamber is familiar with the incredible reach, depth and variety across the third sector. Right now, they are working to reduce inequality, to improve health outcomes, to increase the wellbeing of our citizens, to provide housing, to cement community cohesion, to provide opportunities. The list goes on, and I am sure that we will hear through the contributions that are made by every individual member just how far that reach goes. The third sector genuinely covers every area of Scotland, both in terms of the area in which they are working and also the geography. To do that, they are employing people, creating jobs, they are purchasing and procuring goods and services, they are engaging in commercial activity. In short, one of their aims and objectives above and beyond all the other tasks that they do is to generate wealth. In fact, you could argue that the third sector in Scotland today is doing far more to level up than any national strategy because of its presence and its effort in every region of Scotland. Some of the best work that I have certainly seen in particular subject areas is delivered by the third sector. Highland home care does an incredible job of pioneering work when it comes to training care workers and delivering care. Just earlier today, I met with a fostering and adoption charity that is rising to the challenge that was set by the Scottish Government in terms of recruiting more foster carers. They are relieving hunger across Scotland through the provision of food banks. They are working to provide opportunity for sports, for music and for employment in every part of Scotland. I am thinking back to some of the work that I have previously engaged with in setting out Scotland's 10-year economic strategy. Many of the goals that are set out in that strategy are already being delivered by organisations in the third sector. Some of the ways in which the third sector contributes to the economy are obvious. I have already mentioned that they are an employer, that they purchase goods and services and, of course, that they invest in buildings and equipment. However, it is absolutely essential—that is what the report that is under debate today does. It is absolutely essential that we think of the economy in a different way if we really want a sustainable and an inclusive economy. We want to ensure that wellbeing is embedded in our delivery of economic goods to all of Scotland's community. One of the ways that they do that is supporting people to become economically active through employability programmes. They are able to reach people that, so often the state and the Scottish Government and its agencies are unable to reach. They also fund research and development programmes. Of course, while Scottish Government funding is absolutely essential when it comes to research and development, so often the third sector, through fundraising and so on, is able to invest in research and development, that Government or indeed the private sector is not able to. They are also able to tackle issues such as mental health, poverty and promoting a healthy workforce in a slightly more nimble and agile way perhaps. Lastly, of course, social enterprises are creating new markets and organisations by altering cultural norms of behaviour, as well as contributing to changes in consumer preferences. What is so interesting about social enterprises is that some of them identify as being the private sector and others identify as being in the third sector. However, if there is one challenge facing the third sector, as defined in this report, it is the challenge in being adequately defined and, therefore, its contribution being properly quantified. The third sector, as we have already discussed and will discuss over the course of this debate, is not homogenous. Interestingly, the SCVO identifies social care and housing as the two largest activities by income, followed by culture and sport, community work, education and health and religion. However, those organisations can vary from very small local organisations staffed entirely by volunteers all the way through to national or indeed international charities, employing hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of people. The Fraser Valander Institute says that third sector organisations contribute significantly to most sectors of the economy. If you want proof of that, just ask yourself what would our economy look like without that sector operating in that area. That is why tonight's debate is so important. Everybody in this chamber shares our objective to deliver a sustainable and inclusive economy. The economy is the backbone of so much of the other work that we do. However, none of our aims in the economy can be achieved through the private sector or the public sector working independently of the third sector. We absolutely need the third sector as part of our efforts to build a sustainable and inclusive economy. That calls on all of us to acknowledge the work that they do and also to try to get a grip on the actual quantum of work that they do so that we can include that more obviously in our discussions about the economy. The third sector needs a parity of esteem with the private and public sectors when we are talking about economic development. My last comment as I draw to a close is that the only hope that any of us has of solving whatever economic challenge it is that is under debate is by working across the third sector, private sector and the public sector. That calls on us to acknowledge the work that the voluntary sector and the third sector do and to pay tribute and to ensure that that is not just through rhetoric alone but that they are embedded in national economic strategies and indeed in our budgets. I would like to congratulate Kate Forbes for securing this important debate and highlighting the positive impact of charities, community and voluntary groups and other non-profit distributing organisations. The third sector organisations are often the backbone of any community. They offer a range of services that are often helping to alleviate societal difficulties such as food poverty, loneliness and social isolation. They generally make life better. I am sure that everyone here can think of many organisations across their constituency who do just that. I am from the community larders providing access to groceries and pop-up projects in their work with older citizens to the larger charities such as Barnardo's and Aberlour, just to name a few. With the Westminster-induced cost-of-living crisis, it is the types of organisations that are helping to plug gaps in previously publicly funded services, while navigating rising costs and inflation. In doing so, they contribute and help to reduce public expenditure, as was highlighted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Thousands of organisations that help to balance our delicate social fabric. During my time as convener back in 2019 of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, we published a report about valuing the third sector. In that report, the economic contribution of the third sector was recognised to be comparably higher than the whisky industry and not far behind the Scottish tourism sector. Recent figures published by SCVO for 2022 showed that the economic contribution was now £9.2 billion up from £8.5 billion in 2021, while spending was £8.8 billion up from £7.9 billion in 2021. Despite the growth in the third sector, its contributions remain obscured, as was outlined by Kate in her opening, and its struggles are pretty unrelenting. Age Scotland reported in the findings from their survey keeping the doors open in June 2022 that securing funding was a recurring issue. They expressed views that multi-year funding would be beneficial for increased financial security and the delivery of longer-term projects, and that single-year funding models that required them to show their impact in just a year made it more likely that they would only be able to interact with communities that they are already engaged with. Another thing that was picked up in that 2019 report that I was speaking about was the impact on staff of single-year funding. Of course, those staff employed in our communities are hugely important. The Royal Society of Edinburgh's report echoed by the SCVO's latest finding from the Scottish third sector tracker that continues to identify finances as a top priority. I understand that the Scottish Government is working with other statutory funders to consider how partnership working can be encouraged in a competitive funding environment, and I would be interested to know how their findings are being used to design and develop meaningful collaboration between all sectors. Economic activity should serve a purpose to meet everyone's basic needs and improve our collective health and wellbeing so that all of Scotland's people and places can thrive and prosper. The voluntary sector meets the vision of the national strategy for economic transformation by harnessing innovation, entrepreneurship, research and development, partnership and prevention, and supporting people into employment. Building successful trusting relationships between the third and public sectors is achievable. We saw it during the pandemic. The third sector played a key role in supporting the public sector, and it was evident that existing relationships became stronger and new ones were created. There was the removal of bureaucratic barriers alongside joined-up working, which empowered people to work together quickly and efficiently. That made such a difference to folk on the ground that it was a better way of working. Fadar funding opportunities, balanced power and resources for third sector organisations can help to overcome barriers and recognise our vision for Scotland as a wellbeing economy. I start by congratulating Kate Forbes on securing this member's debate. It is a really important opportunity for us to celebrate our charitable and third sectors in Scotland. To acknowledge the positive economic contribution that the third sector is making to Scotland, as has just been mentioned, all of us recognise that during the pandemic, the third sector has stepped up to help our society. I thank the organisations that provided useful briefings ahead of today's debate. It shows the vital impact of some of the statistics that the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations have provided us ahead of the debate. The economic statistics that I had not been fully aware of that impact when you look towards potentially £7.9 billion being spent in 2021, now up to £8.8 billion of sector spending in the country. That is huge and incredibly important and impacts on everyone's lives. That is one of the things that the debate has already shown. It is also important to recognise the positive impact that charitable and third sector is making not only to reduce but to maximise public expenditure, either by providing services in our health, social care or education sectors, and often doing that better than our NHS or our local authorities. I say that because often the third sector and charitable sector will take a more innovative or sector or person-specific solution forward. I think that that is something that we should celebrate and often capture—it is vital that we capture that. I will give an example of that here in my own region in Lothian. In NHS Lothian, looking at what were waiting times for CAMHS services, we have often heard complaints from MSPs saying that it is unacceptable just to leave people on long waiting lists. They have embraced a lot of work with the third sector to review CAMHS cases and to get them in where is appropriate to early intervention run by mental health charities. That is really helping to support families and individuals instead of just leaving them on a waiting list. I think that there are some really innovative solutions that we should all celebrate and want to see expanded. Kate Forbes said, and I agree, that we also need to look towards the third sector in playing more of a national role in our society but also being at the table both in terms of national and regional economic strategies but also in terms of where Parliament needs to allow them in as well. One of the problems that we as a Parliament and Governments, including this one but previous ones, have failed in an opportunity is around letting the third sector in earlier. The integration of health and social care, I think that it was a mistake not to have the third sector at the table earlier on. I would say to ministers in terms of the development of national care service, let's not make that mistake again. There's an opportunity, I think, as we see that progress through Parliament, to embed the third sector's opportunity. If I've got some time, I'll be too. I am on the committee that's doing the national care service evidence gathering and we have included the third sector in our evidence sessions. Would you welcome that? I think that that is something that is absolutely right. It's valuable. I absolutely agree. I think that when it comes to decision making and the commissioning of services where they actually are at a table, it's going to be really important because a lot of the work they've done beyond integration of health and social care has been outside of the room and I think that it's really important that we make sure that they are there commissioning services and being at the heart of budget conversations and I say that and members will be aware of the private members bill consultation that I've launched around a right to pallative care. I think that that's really important and an example of where the hospice sector are not embedded in the conversations around budgeting and decisions taken by a Government is seeing them actually facing a £16 million black hole in staffing budgeting. So that is an example of where I think we need to really embed them in decision making and members will be aware the CHAS reception down in the garden lobby after this event but there's so many organisations doing such fantastic work that we really need to celebrate them but also note where we need to as a Parliament also engage better with them to open up opportunities for them to do more and actually make a bigger difference. So to conclude I'd like to thank members and especially Kate Forbes for bringing this debate forward this evening. I think we have a huge opportunity to encourage and nurture our third sector and I think that's something all of us would want to celebrate and make sure happens. Thank you Mr Briggs. I call Foisal Chargy to be followed by Emma Harper Mr Chargy. Thank you Deputy Presiding Officer. First of all I would like to thank Kate Forbes for bringing this very important debate into the chamber. I've been involved in third sector organisation all my life and I know how the difficulty third sector organisations go through. Presiding Officer Scotland's third sector contributes a vital amount of amount to Scottish society. Sadly the contribution of this important sector are too often overlooked and undervalued. This is further represented in the Scottish Government funding models where we see third sector organisations losing out time and time again. In January of this year I hosted a roundtable for third sector community organisations in the Lothian regions. I was told by many community organisations that the current grant and the funding model is confusing and time consuming for smaller organisations who don't have dedicated fundraising manager meaning that smaller third sector community organisations lose out and cannot provide the service that they desperately need in their communities. Acknowledging the economic contribution of the third sector means that accepting the needs for further investment and support to keep this vital organisation up and running. The Royal Society of Edging Boris report on the economic contribution to the third sector in Scotland highlighted that the third sector is often overlooked as a source of wealth generation and rarely included in national or local growth strategies. In order to wrap the vast economic contribution that the third sector makes we must give it the recognition and funding that it deserves. The Scottish Government has made commitments to a well-being economy but these commitments cannot be reached without the important work of the third sector. The range of work done by the third sector is incredibly widespread and long-lasting. Since 2020, the increase in the use of food banks, temporary accommodation and energy prices has meant significant increases in demand for service. During the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently third sector organisations work round the clock to provide support but due to the current financial situation core funding is reducing and many vital organisations cannot offer the same level of support they once did. We will see the impact of this in our economy if further investments is not made. It is clear that barriers still exist to allowing a wider recognition of the third sector in Scotland. The RSC report highlighted that there appears to be a cultural assistance to involving charities and other social organisations programmes. The report highlighted that charities often feel like they are not taken as seriously or deemed as professional as other organisations. This culture leads to third sector organisations missing out on opportunities to expand and contribute to our economy and society as a whole. Contribution which are vital and which we should support. I welcome this report and hope it will lead to a barrier to access being turned down to third sector organisations to get the recognition and support that they deserve. I apologise that I will not be able to stay until the end due to the Ramadan. I congratulate my colleague Kate Forbes on securing this important debate. The debate allows us to recognise and promote the importance of the third sector. Kate Forbes has outlined this very well in leading this debate already. In terms of its economic contribution to Scotland's economy, including the wellbeing economy, I also thank the organisations for their briefings ahead of this debate this evening. The Royal Society of Edinburgh's research paper highlights so much information and I would recommend everyone. I know that chamber colleagues will have read about it and encourage others to read it also. The third sector is an absolutely crucial lifeline to so many of our fellow citizens supporting people's social needs as well as their physical and mental health. The social enterprise is a diverse mix of business models, as we have heard already, across many industries and rural and urban geographies. That is a key strength. Many social enterprises are registered charities or skeos, while many others are community interest companies, co-operatives and other purposeful business models. The economic contribution of Scotland's social enterprises in terms of gross value added income to Scotland's economy is £2.63 billion annually, according to the most recent social enterprise census. Those social enterprises, which together make up the third sector, provide around 90,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Scotland alone, providing Scotland's third sector with a net collective worth of around £7 billion. The third sector and, indeed, its social enterprises are hugely important to Scotland's economy to our society, and it is right that we celebrate and support the third sector this evening. Presiding Officer, I would like to touch on the work of the third sector of recent Galloway. The team led by Alan Webb helps voluntary organisations, charities, social enterprises and co-operatives, credit unions, mutual organisations and volunteers all work together to put the sector first. They highlight what the third sector is, how it impacts upon the lives of individuals and communities in the Fries and Galloway and how it impacts on the strength and sustainability of our economy. Third sector DNG additionally represents the interests of the sector by lobbying opinion creators and decision makers here in the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council and, indeed, NHS Dumfries and Galloway. It is essential to value the third sector equitably, as Kate Forbes described. Third sector DNG is part of the third sector interface network, funded by the Scottish Government. The TSI provides a single point of access for support and advice for the sector within local areas. That includes tackling social inequalities, community empowerment, inclusive growth, increasing volunteering and citizenship and enabling the integration of health and social care. One of the great initiatives that stem from that is increasing the use of social prescribing in the region. We have recently recommended increasing the use of social prescribing at health committee. Following our social prescribing is an investment, not a cost inquiry that health committee did previously. It is a great way for people to be supported to access treatment in the best interests of their physical and mental health. Third sector DNG is working in collaboration with many groups and organisations such as a listening ear, the DNG harder hearing group, DG voice, Dumfries and Galloway advocacy and Food Train, of course, and many others. They all work to support people to become economically active. I volunteered with a listening ear during the Covid lockdown to help to address isolation and loneliness caused by the lockdown. All the work that is being done to support people and promote digital literacy is another thing that is being taken forward. I think that, to this end, the third sector DNG and under the leadership of a former CEO, Norma Austin-Hart, did a great study to examine the extent of digital inclusion. I am conscious of time, Presiding Officer, but their findings were stark, but it led to great initiatives to support digital literacy hubs. I thank Kate Forbes again for securing this debate and reaffirming the need to include and value the third sector to support our economy. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I also have my congratulations to Kate Forbes for securing time in the chamber to highlight the importance of the third sector to the Scottish economy. I think that the third sector, as members will know, is something that I have spoken about many times in the chamber. Although we talk about them all the time and we praise them, I am not quite sure that we match them with the way in which we act on their behalf. I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate. I also thank the Royal Society of Emer for its comprehensive document. As is highlighted in the motion and by previous speakers, the monetary value of the third sector in Scotland would be impossible for any Government to replace. Governments lean on the third sector in an assumption that they can be a cost effective way of delivering a community service, especially when they often cater for those furthest removed from our society. However, when we talk in terms of economic contribution of the third sector, we should not lose sight of what that means in terms of our communities and the impact it would have on them if they ceased to exist. Not to mention the extra burden that that would put on our statutory services already creaking under huge pressures. As is customary in these debates, I will talk about some third sector organisations in my own area, Morvan Day services in Onthank, a drop-in centre for those suffering from mental health, a lifeline for many who, in some of them, is the only place they see outside of their home a couple of times a week. They use music and art, and I have been beaten several times by many members in their pool when we drop in there. I have partake sometimes in their music because they do have guitars in there, although I would be glad to hear that I have not tried to draw anything in their art classes. However, what that does is draw together a lot of like-minded people in a safe environment. That service is under threat. Local council have withdrawn their funding. What worries me is what happens to those members who use that service, because they are not going to walk through the shiny doors of a statutory service. As it happens, they have secured some donations privately, which is going to keep the doors open for the next few months while they are trying to work through those issues. However, I worry what happens to those very colourful characters—some fantastic characters—that use that service. What happens to them if modern day shuts in on thank? Likewise, break the silence who work with those who have childhood sexual trauma. Who is going to replace that service if they fall? If we lose those services, my worry is that, although it will come out of the cost of the local council ledger, it will come out of the pages of the local council ledger, but it will inevitably reappear in the healthcare ledger at a much greater cost. We are with you, Drug and Alcohol Addiction Support, along with recovery enterprises, who do not just wait for service users to come to them. They will go out to the service users for those who are not able to leave their home. They work with those who are most removed from society, the foundation hub, who have support for those detained at His Majesty's pleasure, but will need to be reintegrated into the community after serving the debt to society. They work with them six or eight weeks out to make sure that they have everything that they need when they come out. They also support the families of those who are incarcerated. There is not a similar statutory service to replace that. Many of us will know about centre stage who have developed into such a huge community asset. A meeting point, they use music and all other things to bring people together who otherwise may have nowhere to go and seek help, seek company or seek friendship. The third sector is under increasing financial pressure to deliver what they do and more often to the most vulnerable in a society. They have the flexibility to adapt to circumstances in a way that statutory services often cannot. In many ways, the third sector is taking for granted that they will always be there, that their budgets can be squeezed and that they will continue to deliver the economic community and human impact that we have been discussing. That will be so vital. We just shouldn't, because if we do, we will wake up one day and they won't be there. What will we do? Cutting support for a third sector is a false economy and service that we could not replace. I thank Kate Forbes for securing today's debate. For all of us in the chamber, it is always a pleasure to be able to highlight and speak about the valuable role of Scotland's third sector to our economy and to our society. In opening, Kate Forbes set out a number of the challenges in a very considered speech. I know well the impact that the third sector has on the ground working with individuals across Scotland. Most of my career, before coming to this place, was spent working in the third sector. I declare an interest in that regard. Having worked for Enable Scotland, as colleagues probably know before my election to Parliament, I was able to see up close the work that they and other third sector organisations do, particularly in the learning disability and social care space. I think that when we often think about the third and voluntary sector, it is perhaps those sorts of engagements that often come to mind. We have already heard a number of examples from across Scotland in the debate this evening. It is the impact on individuals and society that we see through a third sector organisation and their interactions that have the biggest impact in our communities. Often when we think about the provision of support services to people in our communities, we often see the third sector going above and beyond in terms of their delivery and often being praised for the high standards that they have adhered to. Indeed, the British Medical Journal, looking at social care services, has found that regulated social care services in the third sector are frequently higher than those in the private sector. Indeed, in terms of people's choice of where they receive care, people often look to third sector options in order to have that support with an organisation that I suppose they look at in terms of trust and of being rooted in their local community. Of course, there are other examples of where I think that connection and trust is borne out. When it comes to supporting fostering relations, organisations such as the Outward Bound Trust are equipping young people in communities across Scotland with skills for life and engaging them in community projects such as the Mark Scott Leadership for Life award, which we have managed in this chamber to find a consensus around funding for the coming year. I think that that was a really strong piece of work done across the party in order to secure that important funding, and we hope that that will continue. Of course, there are countless examples of third sector organisations who need and deserve support from across Scotland, and I think that they are at the forefront of our minds in the debate this evening. However, what Kate Forbes' motion this evening rightly highlights. I think that what we do not consider nearly as much is the large economic impact that those organisations have. SCVO's sector stats for 2022 estimated that there were 46,500 charities, community groups and social enterprises active in Scotland, employing 135,000 paid staff and supported by over a million volunteers, with an estimated turnover of £9.2 billion and spending £8.8 billion in that period. That is a very significant economic footprint. We know that other reports have continued to exemplify that, not least the work done by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which has been referenced here by speakers this evening. I think that what we have also heard this evening from colleagues is the importance of ensuring that the third sector can continue to contribute to our growing economy by making sure that they have the certainty in terms of their planning. That is largely to do with Yes resource, in knowing where the resource is coming from. However, it is important in terms of fair funding and ensuring that the structures of funding work for those organisations. I would point if people have not already seen it to SCVO's fair funding asks of government, where they have called for multi-year funding, they have called for upgrading, they have called for a better kind of communication and dialogue, I suppose, in terms of funding awards. We have to reflect on all of that. Indeed, I hope that, in summing up the minister, I might be able to say something about the progress of the fair funding review that I know that the Government is undertaking, because SCVO is keen to see quicker progress in that regard. I am conscious of time, Deputy Presiding Officer. It is clear that we need to ensure that the third sector is at the heart of our economy here in Scotland, that it is a considered and respected partner. We realise that the potential that the third sector has and that Kate Forbes' motion rightly highlights is that the third sector can continue to make a huge contribution to Scotland, not only here in our present but also in the future. I think that everyone in the chamber has an agreement on that, but we must do more in order to support our charities across Scotland. Thank you, Mr Cain. I now call Minister Emma Roddy to respond to the debate around seven minutes, please, minister. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I too want to genuinely thank Kate Forbes for bringing that forward, because it is wonderful to have been given this opportunity to focus on the economic advantages of having a thriving third sector. As she mentioned in her opening speech, the third sector covers everything in life. There are incredible things going on in the Highlands, which we both represent, from housing provision to mental health support. I am so aware that usually debate in here on the third sector focuses on the need to support the third sector with Government funding, which is important, and I am going to get on to how we are doing that shortly. However, it might leave folk with the impression that the third sector is something that costs rather than contributes. That came through in Paul O'Cain's contribution. I know from his past work that he has a very valuable insight here, and I too want to welcome the report from the Royal Society of Edinburgh that has been mentioned by him and other members. At a time when I genuinely believe that we must and that more and more people do think carefully about where we spend our money supporting local, ethical businesses, the societal impact of the third sector cannot be ignored, but the economic impact is often overlooked. As Miles Briggs pointed out, the spending that the third sector is responsible for is incredible. It is hard for me to imagine, for example, the riverside in the west of Inverness being the hive of activity that it is now without Eden Court. I can say that one of the best parts about having a birthday in July is that every year I get to enjoy some of their summer offering. Beyond that, Eden Court is estimated to be worth £11.83 million to the Highland economy and £7 is generated for every £1 of public funding. However, there is also that spend to save element. We know that the efforts of the third sector in many areas is preventing crises, supporting people and saving lives. I was at the Highland Heroes Awards last week to support Michael O'Neill, who is an emergency community rescue first responder where I grew up in allness. He literally rescues people, complimenting the work of the ambulance service and community healthcare providers, and truly deserved the recognition of the award that he got. Sitting there, it was incredible to hear the stories of the other nominees who were doing work caring for people at home, preventing deaths by suicide, by providing peer support and finding innovative housing solutions. As Kate and I both know and probably spend a lot of time reminding other people, it is local communities who know best how to deliver services in their area. That gets to the heart of work in my portfolio on addressing depopulation, tackling inequalities and ending social isolation and loneliness. We have to do that in a way that reaches those furthest from power. As Brian Whittle pointed out, third sector organisations are reaching those that others, including mainstream services, have not been able to. What we have heard tonight is how those locally-based, locally-minded third sector organisations are making a difference across Scotland. They fill gaps and they solve problems that solely profit-driven businesses cannot. Ruth Maguire's shout-out to her community larders brought to mind a number that I am also familiar with, including organisations that we are supporting through our social isolation and loneliness fund, and countless which sprung up over Covid to ensure that people did not have to travel far for essentials, even if they lived rurally or on an outer island, or in response to the cost of living crisis since. Ruth Maguire was also right to talk about voluntary services in particular, which of course make up a huge part of the third sector. Formal volunteering is estimated to be worth £2.3 billion in Scotland, but we know that the true worth is even higher than that. Since I was very young, even when I have been working multiple jobs, I have always held voluntary roles, and it was not just about wanting to do something good, but you get so much out of it. I only had the energy to get up and go to my other work in the morning because I felt like I had purpose and I got to spend time with other volunteers who shared my beliefs and knew that we were making a difference to someone. When we look at social prescribing, mental health recovery, the third sector is leading the way. That is supporting service users, but also providing a way for those who will benefit from volunteering that opportunity to be part of something and enrich their lives through that volunteering. As Emma Harper said, this is not in opposition to public services, but the partnership working like that, which she described in Dumfries and Galloway, can improve the public sector while maintaining that important role for the third sector. That means that the value of the money that we are spending on public services goes up because the impact is going further and is worth more. In the Scottish Government, we have a firm commitment to our national strategy for economic transformation, which has an overarching vision for a wellbeing economy in Scotland that is fair, green and growing, and in which the third sector has an important role to play. Foisal Childry mentioned the need for many third sector organisations to have dedicated staff for making funding applications. He is absolutely right. I am supporting at the moment a number of smaller charities to help them to make sense of that funding landscape and try to navigate it. I always say to them that there is a reason that you see so many full-time fundraising officers. I recognise that there is a need for Government funding to reduce that problem for those that we support and not risk adding to it. Paul O'Kane was right to raise the fair funding principles, which we remain committed to. It is something that we have prioritised, despite the very difficult budget situation that we are in, providing the clarity that we know that third sector organisations need. Out of that fair review, two recommendations have been progressed, including a commitment to notify organisations who are going to be in receipt of two-year funding as part of the pilot buy at the end of March. Can the minister say anything in terms of the progress of that and whether that target will be met? Certainly not something that I can speak to in detail right now, but I am more than happy to get Paul O'Kane some more information on that. I know that it is something that the First Minister has been keen to press with officials across Government that grant conditions and timescales for notification need to be improved. It is an issue that we are aware of, and I am more than happy to follow up. Both the national strategy for economic transformation and the 2022-23 programme for government included a commitment to undertake a review of how to increase the number of co-ops, employee-owned firms and social enterprises in Scotland, and that review will conclude in spring this year. As we approach the two-year anniversary of that strategy's publication, we recognise that much has changed in that time. A refreshed strategy will provide a clear and concise articulation of the actions that we are taking and will take to achieve our central objective to build that fair, green and growing economy. To fully achieve its economic potential, the third sector needs stability and the opportunity for longer-term planning and development, and that is why we remain committed to fully implementing a fairer funding approach for the third sector. This year, we are focusing on improvements to our grant-making arrangements to provide that greater clarity. The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the economic contribution and impact for communities and individuals of the third sector in Scotland, and that includes continued collaborative efforts between the public, private and third sector, and I look forward to playing my part, along with colleagues, to realise that. There is always more that we can do, and I know that I will continue to hear from many of the colleagues who have contributed this evening on how we can best reach our shared goal.