To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the third sector to ensure that learning can be shared and successful local models can be rolled out nationally. (S6O-03896)

The Scottish Government provides £11.6 million of funding to national infrastructure bodies, such as the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations and Volunteer Scotland, as well as providing dedicated local support through the 32 third sector interfaces—one in each local authority. By providing learning and sharing opportunities for the wider third sector through networks, events, training and information sharing, those bodies enable organisations to share ideas and best practice and to collaborate.

The Scottish Government also supports a wide variety of shared learning platforms across all portfolios, in relation to many of which it has a facilitative role.

Stirling Community Enterprise’s resilient futures project, which tackles antisocial behaviour, is proving to be very successful. What steps can the Government take to support the roll-out of such projects and models in other places that might benefit from that?

I thank Evelyn Tweed for her question and for highlighting the important work that the resilient futures project does. I am aware that the Minister for Victims and Community Safety visited that project in April this year. It is very important that we learn from the success of such projects so that others can learn from best practice and can consider adopting it.

We look forward to receiving the report and recommendations from the independent working group on antisocial behaviour, which is undertaking a review of antisocial behaviour with a view to a more strategic approach being taken that involves focusing on preventing antisocial behaviour and supporting people.

I again thank Evelyn Tweed for raising awareness of such an important project in her constituency.

I recently attended a physical activity class that is run by Killie Heartmates in conjunction with the cardiology rehabilitation unit at Crosshouse hospital. I noticed the impact that that class has on people’s quality of life and on preventing recurrence of heart problems and stroke. Does the minister agree that that initiative is exactly the sort of a collaborative third sector initiative that the Scottish Government should be rolling out?

The member raises another example of the fantastic work that goes on in our third sector and community groups across the country.

We are keen to ensure, whether through national Government funding, local government funding or funding from trusts and foundations, that we continue to share best practice, what works and the impact that that is having on the lives of people in communities throughout Scotland.

I thank the member for raising yet another excellent example of what can happen.