The South Lanarkshire Third Sector Partnership Agreement sets out better ways of working together, including a commitment by the council to include the local third sector in strategic and service delivery discussions.

It was co-produced with the local third sector, facilitated by Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLan), alongside a Third Sector Grants Policy that establishes clear and transparent processes for payments from the council to the sector.

Following approval of both documents by the council’s Executive Committee, the new partnership has now been signed by council leader Joe Fagan and chief executive Paul Manning on behalf of the council, and by VASLan’s chair Niall McShannon and interim chief executive Jimmy Wilson.

Councillor Fagan said: “The vision shared by the council and local voluntary organisations is to make South Lanarkshire the best place in Scotland in which the third sector operates.”

Mr Wilson said: “This new framework shows what real partnership looks like, built on trust, fairness, and shared purpose. It’s a major milestone for South Lanarkshire’s local third sector.”