Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS), our partner organisations and their staff represent the voluntary sector at a number of strategic working groups. This means that voluntary groups have a voice through VAS and other third sector organisations to these partnerships, and have someone through whom they can get information on their proceedings and business.

Below is a table showing partnership names, a brief explanation of their membership and function, and the name of the representative on the groups. If no organisation name is given, the representative is from VAS, otherwise organisation and contact details are provided. You will find full contact details for VAS staff at Staff A-J, Staff K-Z.

Please also see the page on representation through Shetland's Community Planning Partnership strategic partnerships and practitioner groups.

Group	Function	Third Sector Representative	Associated Document or Website
16+ Learning Choices Providers Group	This group is made up of service providers of 'positive destinations' for school leavers. It includes SIC, VAS, Skills Development Scotland, MOEP, Train Shetland, NAFC, Shetland College, JobCentre+	Neil Pearson 01595 743911
Association of Community Councils	This association supports the work of the 18 community councils throughout the islands.	Catherine Hughson 01595 743901	ASCC website
Carers' Link Group	This group, composed of representatives from the National Health Service (NHS) (Primary Care and Palliative Care), Shetland Islands Council (SIC) (Community Care, Social Work), Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Shetland Befriending Scheme, Crossroads; helps address the needs of carers across Shetland.	Jo Jack 01595 743923	Carers Group website
Central Service Delivery Group	Provides a basis for service planning at a local community level and specifically to support the future planning for health and social care services within the Community Health Partnership.	Catherine Hughson
Child Protection Committee	This is a multi agency group led by the Council to oversee all legislation in connection with Child Protection.	Catherine Hughson	SIC Child Protection website
Child Protection in the Community Sub-Committee	Membership of this group are representatives from SIC youth services, sports, education, child protection and representatives from local trusts and VAS. Its aim is to assist voluntary and community groups to meet the requirements of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 and to achieve best practice in their work with Shetland children.	Anne Robertson 01595 743902
Community Engagement Network	Ensure community engagement is at the heart of community planning	Catherine Hughson
Community Health and Care Partnership Management Team	Responsible for the management, co-ordination, development and integration of all community health and care services through the Community Health Partnership	Catherine Hughson Jo Jack
Community Health Partnership Committee	Shetland’s Community Health Partnership (CHP) is part of NHS Shetland. The CHP works in partnership with the NHS board and other agencies. The aim is to continue to develop high quality local services, with health services, social care services and voluntary organisations working closely together.	Catherine Hughson Sue Beer (Carers' Representative) 01595 743909
Community Learning and Development Partnership	This group is composed of SIC CLD (Community Works, Adult Learning & Youth Services) and partners who work with community organisations and the community.	Sue Beer 01595 743909, Wendy Hand 01595 743905
Compact Implementation Group	Sets out shared principles, joint undertakings and commitments to improve the working relationships between the public, voluntary and community sectors in Shetland. It will provide a platform for improved cooperation, understanding and respect. Designed to clearly state what each party can expect from each other which can be summarised as a shared commitment to build mutual trust, confidence and a appreciation of the roles and contribution of public, voluntary and community sector bodies for the benefit of Shetland	Catherine Hughson, Wendy Hand	Shetland Compact
Countryside Access Forum	Association Shetland Community Councils (ASCC), Scottish Natural Heritage, Anglers Association, Equestrian Society, RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), SCFWAG (Shetland Crofting, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group), Crofters Union, National Union of Farmers etc.: Oversight of local implementation of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003	Malcolm Johnson Disability Shetland malcolm.johnson@shetland.org 01595 743922	Access to the Countryside and Mountains in Scotland
Data Sharing Partnership	This multi agency partnership was formed to deliver electronic data sharing and manage the organisational changes necessary to ensure effective, efficient and secure sharing of information.	Anne Robertson
Disability Consultation Forum	Multiagency group comprising statutory bodies (and Disability Shetland)	Malcolm Johnson
External Transport Forum	ZetTrans led group of local transport service provider and users and reps from Northlink and Loganair; represents the interests of users of transport from Shetland to the mainland.	Catherine Hughson Malcolm Johnson Kate Massie
Fairer Shetland Group	The aim of this partnership is to reduce poverty, deprivation and social exclusion in Shetland. To achieve the aim, this partnership is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of a framework to tackle the outcomes and targets, as set out in National Frameworks and Shetland’s Single Outcome Agreement (SOA).	Catherine Hughson
Health Action Team	Formulating and reviewing Shetland's Joint Health Improvement Plan annually in order to deliver on the Community Planning Board's Priority of improving health and reducing heath inequalities	Catherine Hughson
Integrated Children and Young People's Strategy Group	To assist the development of the next integrated Children and Young People's Plan.	Catherine Hughson
Integrated Children and Young People’s Forum	Sitting beneath the Strategy Group (above), this group is tasked with: ensuring communication between all organisations that contribute to providing services for children and young people in Shetland; sharing information about such services, highlighting good practice and identifying areas for improvement; and identifying changing needs that consideration to be given on a multi-agency basis whether/how these can best be met. Membership: SIC, NHS and Third Sector.	Anne Robertson Shona Manson, Family Mediation Shetland shona.manson@shetland.org 01595 743859	Constitution Plan Minutes
Lerwick, Bressay and Gulberwick Local Services Delivery Group	This group is made up of service providers in the area including local councillors and community councillors who meet and agree ways in which its members can work more closely together, moving service planning and delivery closer to communities. The aim is to promote genuine community engagement in developing and prioritising local services.	Anne Robertson	Local Service Delivery Groups Website
NHS Shetland Local Diversities Taskforce	Representatives include departments of the NHS and the PFPI (Patient Focus Public Involvement); overseas the implementation of all equalities legislation by NHS both as employer and as service provider	Malcolm Johnson
North Isles Learning Partnership	Representatives including Shetland College, SIC Adult Learning, local schools, Train Shetland, NHS, SIC Community Work, Voluntary Action Shetland, Global Yell, Bluemull Development Company, work together to widen participation in lifelong learning and community activity to involve people who have been less likely to take part; identifying local needs and gaps in learning provision and developing responsive projects	Wendy Hand
Psychological Therapies Steering Group	Provides strategic oversight and support for the development of psychological therapy provision in Shetland. Representatives: NHS, CADSS, Couple Counselling, Mind Your Head, Shetland Bereavement Support Service, SIC, Shetland Linkup, Women's Aid	Anne Robertson (SBSS)
Shaping Bereavement Care	NHS Shetland is developing a framework for ‘Shaping Bereavement Care’ to deliver good quality bereavement care services to ensure that those who experience the loss of someone close, whether in hospital, in residential care or in their own home can be assured of co-ordinated support from NHS staff.	Anne Robertson
Shetland Adult Protection Committee	This is a multi agency committee with a significant role in ensuring cooperation and communication within and between agencies to promote appropriate support and protection for adults.	Anne Robertson	minutes biennial report
Shetland Alcohol and Drugs Forum	This forum exists to support and inform the work of the Shetland Alcohol and Drug Action Team (SADAT) by ascertaining, coordinating and expressing the views of service providers, service users and those in need of services. Represents: service providers in field of drugs & alcohol; misusers and their families, carers and partners, and the wider community.	Wendy Hand	Latest approved minutes
Shetland Childcare Partnership	This is a multi agency partnership including representatives from public, voluntary and private sectors who help shape the planning and delivery of childcare at a local level. Funding and grants are distributed to childcare providers in the voluntary and private sectors.	Anne Robertson Val Walterson (training sub-group)	Shetland Childcare Partnership Website
Shetland Domestic Abuse Partnership	Multi-agency partnership working together to tackle and address domestic abuse throughout the isles.	Catherine Hughson
Shetland LEADER Programme Local Action Group (LAG)	Representatives from business, local authority & other public sector agencies, and the third sector, representing local social, economic and environmental interests. Oversee implementation of the EU LEADER Programme including disbursement of LEADER and other funding.	Wendy Hand	Shetland LAG Website
Shetland Mental Health Partnership	Multi-agency strategic partnership, led by NHS Director of Public Health. Responsible for the development of the Shetland wide mental health strategy covering all areas: service delivery, training, crisis support, suicide prevention, mental health promotion. Third sector representation includes Moving On Employment Project, Advocacy, Link Up and Mind Your Head.	Shona Manson, Family Mediation Shetland shona.manson@shetland.org 01595 743859
Shetland Partnership	Shetland Partnership works together to meet the Shetland Community Plan, which is a long term vision for Shetland. Partners work together to deliver the overall purpose and the five strategic objectives.	Catherine Hughson
Shetland Partnership Board	The role of the Board is to set the strategic direction for community planning in Shetland.	Gussie Angus Catherine Hughson
Shetland Partnership Performance Group	The role of the Performance Group is to oversee the development and support the delivery of the Single Outcome agreement (SOA) through coordination across all relevant groups and agencies involved in community planning.
Shetland Partnership Themed groups	Role is to develop and ensure delivery of the relevant policy areas and associated outcomes of the Single Outcome Agreement. Each theme priority may have a number of thematic groups. These vary in size, life span and purpose. Some are short life to provide a project team to a specific piece of work; others are operating at a strategic level and are relatively self-sufficient e.g. the Community Safety Partnership. Where there is a key existing group for a theme, this group will assume responsibility for this role. Where there are several key existing groups within an SOA theme with equal responsibility for this role, representatives from these groups will form an overarching Theme Group to ensure delivery of respective responsibilities, or agree a lead Theme Group with appropriate cross-representation.
Shetland’s Public Partnership Forum	This is a network of local individuals and organisations who are interested in health and social care and who want to be involved in how services are designed and delivered. Meetings are held six to eight weekly.	To be confirmed	Agenda 18/1/2012
Social Economy and Community Regeneration Partnership	This partnership supports social economy and regeneration development, it closely linked with LEADER and ESF funding.	Catherine Hughson Wendy Hand
South Mainland Learning Partnership	Representatives include SIC Adult Learning, Community Work, Voluntary Action Shetland, NHS, Care Centre, youth workers, local schools, Shetland College, work together to widen participation in lifelong learning and community activity and health to involve people who have been less likely to take part; identifying local needs and gaps in learning provision and developing responsive projects	Wendy Hand
South Mainland Local Service Delivery Group	This group is made up of service providers in the area including local councillors and community councillors who meet and agree ways in which its members can work more closely together, moving service planning and delivery closer to communities. The aim is to promote genuine community engagement in developing and prioritising local services.	Wendy Hand	South LSDG
Special Needs Action Group	Pressure group dedicated to maintaining and improving the facilities and resources available to children with special needs, their families and carers.	Kirsten Harcus 01595 743980
Training Forum	This group meets quarterly to discuss local training delivery and procurement and trainer training, ensuring that duplication is minimised and best value assured. Membership includes SIC HR, SIC Adult Learning, Train Shetland, Shetland College, NAFC Marine Centre, Shetland Recreational Trust, Skills Development Scotland, Shetland Childcare Partnership and VAS.	Wendy Hand	Minutes
Transport Strategy Group	To engage across sectors in the development, modernisation, redesign, delivery, focus, etc of transport within and to/from Shetland.	Catherine Hugson
Young Carers Strategy Action Group		Jo Jack