The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.
SCVO news blog
I’m really excited to announce that the New Year heralds a brand refresh for all things SCVO. We’ll be lifting the lid on the new SCVO brand at this year’s Gathering on 19&20 February in Glasgow at the SEC. You might also spot some changes starting to happen before then, so we... Read more
At an event to celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector last night (Monday 6 January 2020), First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the Scottish Charity Awards 2020 and encouraged charities from across the country to apply and share their successes. Speaking from... Read more
December marks the end of my six-year tenure as Trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). I’ve been reflecting on my regular journeys to Edinburgh and all the different experiences being a volunteer Trustee has brought, and what strikes me is the amazing... Read more
At our recent AGM we shared a lot of the great stuff we've been doing over the past 12 months and I'm excited to say there’s more to come! I’m particularly looking forward to the membership review. Our new team have been busy laying the foundations and now they’re getting ready... Read more
It's been a busy year since our last AGM. We've had changes at a senior level, moving from five directors to two – Tim Hencher, Strategic Director of Delivery, and David McNeill, Strategic Director of Development - with a new management structure below that. In April, we launched... Read more
Commenting on the Equalities and Human Rights Committee’s report, ‘Looking ahead to the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget 2020-21: Valuing the Third Sector’, Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “SCVO strongly supports the... Read more
Coming up with all the right ingredients for a hit event at the Gathering can feel challenging - but don't worry as help is at hand. A whopping 65 events take place across two days at the Gathering attracting thousands of people with different interests and roles. But why should... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is delighted to announce that in Round 3 of the Carer Act Transformation Support (CATS) fund, 22 voluntary organisations throughout Scotland have been awarded grants to help them to continue to develop local capacity... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national membership organisation for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises. It works to support, promote and develop a confident, sustainable voluntary sector in Scotland. Part of SCVO’s work focuses on... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO), in partnership with the Scottish Government and BT, has been delivering the Digital Participation Charter Fund over the past five years, supporting 169 projects across Scotland to get people online and develop essential... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has issued an open letter to all UK Parliament party leaders demanding action to stop a no-deal exit from the European Union. The letter – sent on 19 August 2019 - highlights the hugely negative impact no-deal Brexit could... Read more
In response to today’s publication of the Charity Tax Commission’s ‘Reforming charity taxation’ report, Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “SCVO welcomes the Commission’s attempt to undertake a fundamental review of... Read more
A radical new UK collaborative has launched today (Thursday 11 July 2019) in response to the clear call from civil society groups to increase and improve their use of digital tools and techniques. Catalyst - incubated by the Centre of Acceleration of Social Technology (CAST) – is... Read more
Following the publication of a report on the Scottish Government’s charity law consultation issued this afternoon (Wednesday 3 July 2019), David McNeill, Director of Development for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “SCVO welcomes the broad support... Read more
J.P. Morgan and Good Things Foundation have today launched ‘Power Up’, a £1.3 million project designed to support people in underserved communities to build the digital skills that they need to qualify for in-demand jobs. Power Up will support activity in Bournemouth, east London... Read more
Credit: Colin Hattersley Photography Charities and individuals from across Scotland have been recognised for the life-changing difference they make at the 2019 Scottish Charity Awards, which took place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Friday 14 June. Organised... Read more
In response to an article published today on the suspension of European Social Fund grants in Scotland, SCVO Chief Executive Anna Fowlie said: “SCVO has been working with Scottish Government and colleagues in the voluntary sector since this potentially devastating situation... Read more
As the Scottish Parliament is marking its 20th anniversary this month, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) have chosen to mark this milestone by working with representatives from across the voluntary sector to produce a limited-edition book. Entitled Charities... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has been recognised as a Carer Positive employer. The Carer Positive award is presented to employers in Scotland who have a working environment where carers are valued and supported. Carer Positive employers recognise the... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is set to launch a third round of the Carers Act Transformation Support (CATS) Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government, to give third sector organisations involved in the local implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act... Read more
Scottish Charity Awards 2019 Finalists Announced Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s third sector. This year’s shortlist includes 44 individuals and organisations from charities and... Read more
Responding to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that the Scottish Government will work to establish a Citizens' Assembly in Scotland, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Anna Fowlie said: “The First Minister’s commitment to... Read more
The Scottish Government’s review of Scottish charity law is currently taking place, and the recent call for responses to the consultation has now closed - you can view SCVO's response on our policy page. While SCVO welcomes the opportunity to review charity law, the organisation... Read more
A popular grants scheme which helps charities boost their cyber resilience has returned for 2019. Funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the scheme will support charities with grants of up to £1,000 to help them... Read more
A campaign calling for an independent review of the impact of Brexit on health and social care is set to continue. The Assess and Address campaign was created in response to concerns raised by those in the third sector over the implications that Brexit will have for health and... Read more
Attendees from SCVO’s Gathering donate hundreds of items to local foodbank A Glasgow foodbank has received a big donation following the largest third sector event in the UK. The Gathering – hosted annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) - attracts... Read more
Public urged to support local causes through turbulent times Charity workers in Scotland are struggling amidst ongoing economic, social and political uncertainty, according to findings published today. A survey conducted by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO... Read more
Today, (Thursday 14 February) the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) held a webinar with UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston. The live event provided an opportunity for civil society representatives in Scotland to... Read more
SCVO is calling for charities and individuals across the country to apply for our annual charity awards. Now in its 13th year, the Scottish Charity Awards highlight the best, most innovative and effective charity organisations and individuals from the past year, and celebrate... Read more
A new round of funding designed to help people get online and develop essential digital skills was launched today (30 January) by Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy Kate Forbes at Big Hearts Community Trust in Edinburgh. Over the past five years, the Scottish Council... Read more
Following the release of the Scottish Government's 'Fair Start Scotland', 'Work First Scotland' & 'Work Able Scotland' statistics publication, the fifth publication in a series about the devolved Scottish employability services, SCVO's Chief Executive Anna Fowlie responded today... Read more
Politicians are set to consider plans for an independent review of Brexit’s impact on health and social care. Brendan O’Hara MP introduced a Private Member’s Bill at the House of Commons last week (14 November 2018) in response to concerns raised by those in the third sector... Read more
The UK’s first Charity Digital Code of Practice has launched today following an extensive consultation and input from across the sector. The Code, which has been produced to provide charities with practical advice on incorporating digital technology into their work, has been... Read more
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), today responded to Audit Scotland & the Accounts Commission's report ‘Health and social care integration: update on progress’: “The Auditor General has rightly reminded us that the purpose of... Read more
An SCVO colleague has been shortlisted for a prestigious award that recognises women in tech across the UK. Sally Dyson – Head of Digital Participation and Evolution at SCVO – is one of 200 women shortlisted in WeAreTechWomen’s TechWomen100 Awards 2018, which seeks to recognise... Read more
The Scottish Government has launched a grants scheme to help charities boost their cyber resilience. Managed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the scheme will support charities with grants of up to £1,000 to help them achieve cyber essentials... Read more
A new project has been launched which aims to better understand how food can be used to tackle poverty and social exclusion. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and the University of Edinburgh are aiming to examine the work that food projects are doing to... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has launched a second round of the Carers Act Transformation Support (CATS) Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government, to give third sector organisations involved in the local implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act 201... Read more
A new Call to Action from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) reviews how the third sector in Scotland has developed digitally since 2016. Based on the learning from work with leaders from over 80 organisations, the report states that organisations should not... Read more
SCVO, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) have written a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, ahead of today’s Opposition day debate on Universal Credit in the House of Commons. The piloting of... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has today re-iterated its strong support for the UK to remain in the Single Market and Customs Union, following recommendations made in the Scottish Government’s paper ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe: Our Way Forward.’ In... Read more
Over the past four years, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO) Digital Participation Charter Fund – supported by the Scottish Government and BT – has provided funding to 150 projects across Scotland to get people online and develop basic digital skills... Read more
SCVO has repsonded to the First Minister's speech regarding Fair Work at the SNP Conference this afternoon. SCVO Chief Executive Anna Fowlie said: “We welcome the First Minister’s expanded commitment to Fair Work – it’s essential that the Scottish Government uses all the drivers... Read more
The SCVO Annual General Meeting is coming up in a few weeks time - it takes place on Thursday 22nd November at the John McIntyre Centre, Pollock Halls - and I do hope to see as many members there as possible. For both Anna Fowlie (our new CEO) and myself it will be our first SCVO... Read more
Commenting on the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) report Charity Street Scotland, which shows more than three quarters of Scottish households have used a charity service in the last 12 months, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Anna Fowlie said... Read more
Charities from across Scotland have been granted additional funding to continue the delivery of projects which aim to reduce the impact of welfare cuts and poverty. SCVO, through the Community Capacity and Resilience Fund, has awarded £135,000 to 14 organisations to build on the... Read more
I took up my post as Chief Executive of SCVO at the end of April and International Day of Charity this week seemed like a good opportunity to consider what those first three months are making me think about. I’ve worked in the public sector for the last 30+ years but have been... Read more
SCVO response to Programme for Scotland 2018/19 Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) responded today to the Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland 2018-19: “There’s plenty in the Programme for Government that will make a... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has joined forces with other leading third sector organisations to highlight concerns over the effect of Brexit on volunteering numbers. Alongside Volunteer Scotland, SCVO has prepared a letter to the Home Secretary Sajid... Read more
Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP Home Secretary Home Office 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF 15 August 2018 Dear Home Secretary, The Contribution of Non-UK Citizen Volunteers The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national membership organisation for Scotland’s... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO) is delighted to welcome three new members to its Board of Trustees. Fiona Gillespie, Kenneth Pinkerton and Sean Duffy have been selected to join the Board following an open recruitment process. The new trustees will play a... Read more
Over the past four years, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO) Digital Participation Charter Fund - supported by the Scottish Government and BT - has provided funding to 150 projects across Scotland to get people online and develop basic digital skills. This... Read more
I’m very pleased to be launching our new-look Third Force News. TFN began as a four page publication 22 years ago, back in 1996. It’s come a long way since then, moving with the times including developing a strong online presence as well as printing the weekly paper. Recently, we... Read more
Applications are now being accepted for the fifth Scottish Public Service Awards, which celebrate excellence within Scotland’s public services. The Awards, launched by Holyrood magazine in 2014, are held in association with the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament and... Read more
Google is opening Scotland's first Google Digital Garage on the high street in Edinburgh and launching a digital skills training programme in Glasgow as part of a major new investment in Scotland to help upskill local people. The Google Digital Garage, a high street training hub... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is to manage a new grants programme on behalf of the Scottish Government, to help charities implement the Carers (Scotland) Act in their local areas. Launched today (Wednesday 20 June 2018), the Carers Act Transformation... Read more
Charities and individuals from across Scotland have been recognised for the life-changing difference they make at the 2018 Scottish Charity Awards, which took place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday 14 June. Organised annually by the Scottish Council... Read more
National celebrations will recognise the contribution of Scotland’s diverse volunteer community and encourage more people to get involved Thousands of charities, voluntary and public sector organisations are gearing up to celebrate the vital contribution made by volunteers across... Read more
The umbrella organisation representing charities in Scotland is to provide free sanitary products to all staff, tenants and visitors to their buildings, as part of the wider campaign to end period poverty in Scotland. As of this week the Scottish Council for Voluntary... Read more
Today, Wednesday 23 May, sees the launch of a pro-EU, anti-Brexit “Declaration: Scotland for Europe”. Signed by over 40 civil society figures, the Declaration marks the start of a Scottish civil society campaign in favour of staying in the EU. The “Declaration: Scotland for... Read more
Communities and charities with new ideas to tackle child poverty will be given the opportunity to bid for part of a new £7.5 million Innovation Fund. Announced as part of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, the fund, financed by the Scottish Government and the Hunter... Read more
Spring is in the air, and for Third Force News (TFN) this year, that heralds the start of an exciting new adventure as it gets ready to become a monthly magazine. We’ve recognised that most of our readers now prefer to read news digitally, so the last weekly TFN newspaper will be... Read more
The finalists for this year’s Scottish Charity Awards have been announced. Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the awards are open to any voluntary organisation, charity, community group or individual charity volunteer or staff member, and celebrate... Read more
A campaign which aims to encourage EU nationals to stay and continue to live and work in Scotland despite ongoing uncertainty around Brexit took place in Edinburgh today. Created by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the #EUareValued campaign was launched at... Read more
With key votes coming up on Brexit, SCVO and the Human Rights Consortium Scotland have written to members of the House of Lords to ask them to change the UK Government’s plans to reduce our rights’ protections post-Brexit. Peers will vote on the EU Withdrawal Bill beginning today... Read more
Organisations across the third sector have welcomed the Scottish Government’s aspirations to take a rights based approach to social security and are now calling for MSPs to support an amendment to the Social Security (Scotland) Bill, on the subject of independent advocacy. A... Read more
In response to the Scottish Government's publication of ‘Protecting what matters – what’s at stake for individuals in the Brexit talks’, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “SCVO warmly welcomes this report... Read more
SCVO are thrilled to announce that Citizens Advice Scotland today signed Scotland’s Digital Participation Charter, making it the 500th organisation to commit to work alongside the other signatories to ensure that everyone in Scotland can pick up the basic skills required to make... Read more
Decline in trust sparks call to action for Scottish third sector Figures released today (21 February) reveal that public trust in charities in Scotland has fallen by 9 percentage points over the last two years. The data comes from a telephone survey conducted by Ipsos MORI as... Read more
Over 100 charities, campaign groups and civil society leaders have joined forces to launch a new Scotland Declaration on Human Rights, calling for leadership to protect rights in the face of Brexit, as new research published today shows considerable public support for human... Read more
Recent studies have shown that two thirds of Scottish adults are overweight or obese. This means that obesity is now an issue that affects most third sector organisations supporting people in communities and requires urgent attention. Voluntary Health Scotland will be leading a... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is calling for charities across the country to apply for their annual charity awards. Now in its 12th year, the Scottish Charity Awards highlight the best, most innovative and effective charity organisations and individuals... Read more
A joint statement issued today* by the national third sector bodies of devolved nations Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales details various measures they feel are essential to avoid or minimise the potential harmful impacts of Brexit. The key recommendation from Northern Ireland... Read more
Anyone who knows an infantile adult or a surprisingly sure-headed teen knows that maturity is only loosely aligned with age. More likely indicators of maturity include knowing your strengths, working on your weaknesses and being clear about your purpose and direction. So it is... Read more
Research published by the IPPR Scotland today (31 January 2018) has found that the proposed income tax cuts on lower earnings, through a new Starter Rate, will not be effective at supporting the poorest households in Scotland, and will not help the Scottish Government to meet its... Read more
A national network co-ordinated by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has issued an open letter to government bodies asking them to evidence their commitment to delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Scotland. Scotland’s Sustainable Development... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO) Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that Anna Fowlie has been appointed as the organisation's new Chief Executive Officer, and will take up the post in April 2018. Anna joins Scotland's national third sector body... Read more
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic right now. You can barely open a newspaper without reading an article about some new AI milestone, or a comment piece about why we are all going to lose our jobs to automation in the next decade. At CAF we have been trying to stay one... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO) Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that Andrew Burns – former Edinburgh City Council Leader and local councillor - is the organisation’s new Convener. Appointed earlier this week following an open process via a... Read more
John Downie, Director of Public Affairs for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “Today’s Scottish Government Budget was a landmark one, with the Scottish Government quite radically overhauling the tax system. We welcome the introduction of a more... Read more
A programme which creates job opportunities in the third sector for vulnerable unemployed young people across Scotland is celebrating its 8,000th employee. Zara Turner (21) – a Hospitality Assistant at Callander Youth Project – is the latest young person to secure a job via... Read more
Responding to the announcement that facilities run by council arm’s-length bodies will continue to benefit from charity relief from non-domestic rates, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “This decision flies... Read more
A further twenty three organisations from across Scotland have been granted funding for innovative projects which aim to reduce the impact of welfare cuts and poverty in Scotland. Earlier this year, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela... Read more
The launch of an €8.7million cross-border project designed to enable older people with long term conditions (LTCs) to take the steps needed to live well, safely and independently in their own homes launched today (23 November 2017). Funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA... Read more
In response to today’s (Wednesday 22 November 2017) Budget announcement by the Chancellor Philip Hammond, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “Predictably, The Chancellor’s budget statement today did nothing to... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) are asking Scottish and Welsh MPs to back the cross-party amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill drafted jointly by the Scottish and Welsh Governments. While both... Read more
Over the past three years, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (SCVO) Digital Participation Charter Fund – supported by the Scottish Government and BT – has supported 143 projects across Scotland to get people online and develop basic digital skills. This week... Read more
In response to today’s (Thursday 2 November 2017) publication of the Scottish Government’s ‘The Role of Income Tax in Scotland’s Budget’ discussion paper, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “SCVO welcomes the... Read more
Bob Geldof, John Cleese and Deacon Blue will all be in Princes Street Gardens in December for the biggest UK charity event of year thanks to Scottish social enterprise sensation Social Bite. Its innovative approach to tackling homelessness has highlighted the third sector to the... Read more
Feel you don’t have a say in important decisions? Do you despair at Trump, or flinch at the oncoming car-crash of Brexit, but don’t know what to do? Well why not join a local meet-up group and get involved in Open Government? If you haven't heard of it, Open Government is a... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is calling for third sector organisations across the country to put supports in place to encourage EU nationals on their staff to remain in Scotland. According to the Office for National Statistics, 117,000 EU nationals left... Read more
I recently attended the Corra Foundation’s conference on funding (Corra being the relaunched Lloyds TSB Foundation and a large funder here in Scotland). The day – entitled ‘Change convention: a space to explore how to create positive change in uncertain times’ – kicked off with... Read more
Earlier this week Three announced a nationwide rollout and further investment in its pioneering digital skills initiative - 'Discovery' - as part of its ongoing commitment to empower and educate local communities by teaching them essential online skills. David McNeill, Director... Read more
Following the publication of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) first annual report on generosity earlier today, SCVO Chief Executive Martin Sime said: "The people of Scotland make an enormous contribution to our communities through supporting and working for good causes which... Read more
The campaign to devolve employability services to Scotland lasted more than a decade. It was based on the simple proposition that local control would be better, complementary work could be aligned to deliver a better service and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which... Read more
SCVO strongly disappointed that near replication of Work Programme means third sector regulated to role of sub-contractors The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has expressed its strong disappointment at the lack of successful third sector organisations who have... Read more
In November 2016, charity and third sector leaders from across Scotland came together with a rallying call to action, urging charity trustees, chief executives and other third sector leaders to embrace the digital agenda and commit to seizing the opportunities presented by the... Read more
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has today announced that its Chief Executive, Martin Sime, is to retire following more than 25 successful years. Mr. Sime, who joined the charity umbrella body in 1991, has been credited with transforming the role of third... Read more
Never mind the countdown to Christmas, there’s only 241 days left to get ready for Data Protection D-Day! Last Thursday saw me at the SCVO Data Protection conference in Edinburgh. The event sold out remarkably quickly - evidence that the third sector has concerns about GDPR – the... Read more
Scotland’s third sector have made clear the grave concerns we hold around the potential loss of human rights protections we all enjoy as part of the EU, the rights of EU citizens living here and the future of EU funding – which so many charities rely on to undertake the great... Read more