Our new monthly print publication will provide our readers with all the things you love about TFN alongside more in-depth analysis of what’s going on in Scotland’s third sector.
I am very proud of the work we have done to create the August 2018 edition of TFN, not least listening to our readers to find out what you want from us and creating a product we’re confident you will enjoy.
Last autumn, we asked our readers to complete a survey about what you liked and didn’t like about TFN. It was clear that the majority of you enjoy reading sector news at thirdforcenews.org.uk and through our ebulletins. However, many of you also said you still like a print publication and there was a clear call for a deeper examination of sector issues.
We also found people in the sector want TFN to continue to both question and promote the work of the sector, and this is the balance we aim to achieve.
This month, I kicked off our more focused approach with a look at the charity brand (p10-15), asking whether our definition of what a charity is still stands. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the TFN survey which fed into this article – it was really valuable to find out what our readers think. It’s a complex issue and there are no easy answers, but it seems clear that we need to take a fresh look at Scotland’s charity test.
Picking up on our desire to celebrate the successes of the sector, Robert Armour looked at 50 years of Shelter Scotland (p18-23) including examining some of the homelessness charity’s key achievements.
Gareth Jones interviewed Karen Lynch from Belu Water (p16&17), one of the UK’s most successful social enterprises, ahead of her appearance at this year’s Social Enterprise World Forum in September.
TFN’s news editor Graham Martin gives an overview of the main news stories affecting the sector in the last month (p6&7). This is just a little taste of sector news, if you want to stay up to date with breaking news, visit thirdforcenews.org.uk and sign up to our twice weekly ebulletin.
Our popular Chief Encounters column continues but with a fresh twist and the continued support of the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations. Pat Armstrong and Mark Kelvin are the very good natured guinea pigs who tested out the new format, don’t miss that on p28&29.
We also have comment pieces from Annie Gunner Logan, Gib Bulloch and Jonny Kinross.
All of the content in this magazine is available for paying SCVO members and TFN subscribers on thirdforcenews.org.uk. Use your TFN subscription number (printed on the address sheet of your copy of TFN) to access this content.
The creation of TFN monthly magazine is a turning point for TFN. It marks the start of a new content strategy that will see us work with our SCVO colleagues to create distinct and quality digital, print and live content. We are really excited about these changes, which will also see us launch a new website next year.
As part of this we want you to be more involved in TFN, so please don’t be shy about getting in touch. We want to hear from you, whether it is to tell our reporters about stories affecting you, submit opinion pieces or feature in the Goodmovers or Chief Encounters columns. You can email tfn@scvo.org.uk or call us on 0131 474 8000.
