Partnership working with the Third Sector: Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

Last week (3 November 2026), Sioned Williams, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, set out the Welsh Government’s commitment to promoting the community and voluntary sector and to delivering on the commitments set out in the existing third sector scheme.

You can read the full oral statement by following the link here.

Clair Swales, PAVO CEO, said: “We welcome the Deputy First Minister’s statement, placing community empowerment, partnership working, and prevention at the heart of delivery, and building on Welsh Government’s commitment to the third sector funding code and its five principles last month. 

“Here in Powys, we see first hand that volunteers and voluntary organisations are at the heart of every community, and this is something we celebrate.”

“We also recognise that we need to work in true partnership, avoid duplication across services, and remember that volunteering does not come for free.”