TFN has already asked the five parties represented in the last parliament to tell us their priorities - here Deborah Waters of left-wing alliance RISE speaks to Scotland's third sector.

RISE recognises the hugely beneficial impact that third sector organisations have in Scotland, as well as the significant financial pressures they have faced as a result of cuts to local authority budgets.

Our proposed replacement for the council tax - a Scottish service tax based on ability to pay - would generate an additional £2 billion of annual funding for councils, enabling them to better support vital third sector groups.

Scotland's unpaid carers - the majority of whom are women - are an indispensable part of Scottish society and RISE believes that they should receive significantly more support than the £62.10 per week currently provided by the UK government.

The current Carer's Allowance is the lowest social security benefit in the UK. As an alternative, we propose the creation of a living income for unpaid carers, set at £200 per week for all those caring for 35 hours a week or more.

We must enable third sector and charitable organisations to focus their limited resources on pressing challenges

This measure would have a transformative effect, raising the living standards of up to 170,000 Scots, many of whom suffer from the stress and pressure associated with caring for a loved one on a full-time basis.

RISE also believes that Scotland should work towards the creation of a Scottish Universal Basic Income.

This would be an unconditional monthly payment provided as a right to all residents of Scotland. It would replace much of the current welfare system as it relates to employment and income, ensuring that nobody, whether in or out of work, would have to suffer the indignity of extreme poverty.

We recognise that such a policy depends on Scotland gaining full of control of tax and welfare powers. Many people who would like to dedicate some of their time to working with third sector organisations are currently unable to do so due to a range of financial pressures.

A universal income would help to address this by freeing people up to offer a greater contribution to their communities and to society as a whole.

RISE also believes that greater government support should be available for a range of community enterprises and we are particularly keen to see an enhanced focus on such initiatives in rural and isolated areas, where operating costs may be significantly higher.

All of our candidates have signed-up to our Charter of Political Ethics, which requires them to support community organisation and participatory democracy.

RISE MSPs will use their position within parliament to develop community participation by supporting grassroots organisations and campaigns.

We will also work to weaken the influence of shadow lobbyists from the private sector.

We believe in the power of participatory budgeting techniques such as those developed in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Such systems allow citizens to decide for themselves how funding is spent in their area and could - alongside a strengthened third sector - play a key role in the revitalisation of communities across Scotland.

Finally, RISE supports the creation of an Economic Justice Fund, which would provide an immediate, unconditional means of financial support for those who have had their benefits sanctioned by the Department of Work and Pensions.

This would abolish the need for foodbanks in Scotland and enable third sector and charitable organisations to focus their limited resources on other pressing challenges.

Deborah Waters is RISE third sector spokesperson and Glasgow list candidate.