SCVO news blog

On Thursday 22nd January the UK Government released draft legislation for a new Scottish devolution settlement. This sets out how they plan to put the recommendations of the Smith Commission into law. These are draft clauses with a new Scotland Bill to be included in the Queen’s... Read more

SCVO media release 22 January 2015 For immediate release Following the publication of draft legislation on more powers for Scotland, Martin Sime, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “The piecemeal proposals put forward by the Smith... Read more

What were the top SCVO blogs of 2014? 2014 was a year dominated by the independence referendum, and that's reflected in this year's top blogs. The third sector in Scotland worked with us to make sure that charities and voluntary organisations had a strong voice in the debate, and... Read more

To help more young people must invest in what works instead of the Work Programme The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is pleased to announce that Lauren Sinton, a 16-year-old from Bathgate, has become the 5,000th young person to find a job through Community... Read more

SCVO media comment 4 December 2014 Following today’s announcement that the UK Government is extending contracts to deliver its Work Programme, Lucy McTernan, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “We are utterly appalled by the UK Government... Read more

SCVO media comment 4 December 2014 Welfare changes causing depression, fear & destitution SCVO's latest research on the impact of welfare reform on frontline charities shows that cuts, and poor management of them, is subjecting people to abject poverty through no fault of their... Read more

This morning the Smith Commission released its report, setting out the agreement between the main political parties on which further powers to devolve to Scotland. In our original submission to the Smith Commission, we asked for a number of powers to be devolved. Below is a quick... Read more

SCVO media comment 27 November 2014 Time to invest in what works to create real jobs for people Lucy McTernan, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “John Swinney will soon have the power to scrap the Work Programme in Scotland and we urge... Read more

SCVO media comment 27 November 2014 Smith’s personal recommendation to devolve more power to people and communities very encouraging Following the publication of the Smith Commission recommendations today, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, SCVO said: “We’ve said all along... Read more

SCVO media comment 26 November 2014 Following the announcement of the Scottish Government’s legislative programme, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “The third sector has been calling for a fairer society, economy... Read more

24 November 2014 Dear Messrs Cameron, Clegg & Miliband Living up to the vow: the wholesale devolution of welfare As your party representatives enter the final week of Smith Commission negotiations, we want to remind you about the vow you made to the people of Scotland to give... Read more

SCVO media release 20 November 2014 To deliver on new First Minister’s mission to tackle poverty & inequality, Scottish Government needs to invest more in third sector Following a £200m (20%) drop from 2010-2013, public funding now only makes up 34% (£1.7bn) of charities’ income... Read more

Notice is hereby given that the seventy-first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations will be held on Thursday 20th November 2014 at 4.30pm at 200 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5RQ. All Members are invited to attend the AGM and the SCVO... Read more

Minutes of the 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in The John McIntyre Conference Centre, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AY on Thursday 21st November 2013 1. Welcome and opening remarks from Brendan Dick, SCVO Honorary President Brendan Dick, SCVO Honorary President... Read more

SCVO media release 14 November 2014 For immediate release TAP INTO ENERGY OF REFERENDUM & SMITH COMMISSION TO BUILD DEMOCRACY THAT WORKS FOR PEOPLE SCVO has published a report calling for a rethink of democracy in Scotland, so that it works for the vulnerable people whose lives... Read more

Jenny talks to Jill Wood from Engender about the Labour leadership race, women in politics, and the gender pay gap. How are women doing in Scottish politics? Why, 44 years on from the Equal Pay Act, do men get on average 13% more pay than women in Scotland? And is the pay gap... Read more

31 October 2014 Piecemeal top-down approach to devolution won't work Following a wide spread consultation with the third sector across Scotland, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has used its submission to the Smith Commission on more powers for Scotland to... Read more

Politics and power in post-referendum Scotland with Juliet Swann, Electoral Reform Society Scotland In the second of SCVO's Policy Podcasts, Policy Officer Jenny Bloomfield and Juliet Swann, Campaigns and Research Officer at ERS Scotland, discuss some topical political issues... Read more

Joint letter to Smith Commission 10 October 2014 Lord Smith The Smith Commission 7th Floor One Atria 144 Morrison Street Edinburgh EH3 8EX Dear Lord Smith As representatives of some of the major interests in civil society in Scotland, we are well aware of the challenges facing... Read more

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has made an interim contribution to the Smith Commission, asking for a guarantee that people in Scotland will be given a real say in the devolution of more powers to Scotland. Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “We... Read more

SCVO is urging third sector organisations to submit views and proposals on further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament to feed into the Smith Commission. Lord Smith of Kelvin, who has been appointed to take forward the devolution commitments on further powers for the... Read more

What does the independence referendum mean for the third sector and communities in Scotland? This is the topic for discussion in the first of a new series of SCVO podcasts as Policy Officer Jenny Bloomfield talks to Nic White, Head of Scotland at Breast Cancer Care, on the impact... Read more

SCVO – STUC – NUS Scotland - joint media statement 19 September 2014 The citizens of Scotland have made their decision and they must take the lead in shaping Scotland’s future Today the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC... Read more

SCVO media statement 19 September 2014 Reflecting on the result of the referendum on Scottish independence, Martin Sime, Chief Executive, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “People have voted in unprecedented numbers and the debate showed there is an... Read more

SCVO media release 28 July 2014 The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has joined forces with the STUC and the Daily Record for the Mission Million campaign to encourage the million people in Scotland currently unregistered to start using their vote. John Downie... Read more

We're asking you to shape our future, so we can help shape yours. Read more

SCVO media release 9 July 2014 For immediate release The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). This new legal structure, which has been purpose built for the charity sector in Scotland, allows... Read more

SCVO media release 9 June 2014 For immediate release NEED TO LEAVE BEHIND SCOTLAND’S ARCHAIC SYSTEM & HAVE FAIRER DISTRIBUTION OF LAND Five third sector organisations have joined forces to urge the Scottish Government to take early and decisive action on land reform. They have... Read more

SCVO media comment Wed 4 June 2014 Ahead of the publication of the Expert Group on Welfare’s second report, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “It’s encouraging to see that the Group is aspiring towards a much more... Read more

SCVO media release 3 June 2014 NEW NATIONAL PROGRAMME GETS CHARITIES READY FOR SHIFT TO MORE LOCAL HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and partners today (Tuesday 3 June) launched Building Healthier and Happier Communities, a national... Read more

SCVO media release 7 May 2014 For immediate release The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has published a new report, An Economy for All, which outlines how we can build a stronger economy by reducing inequality. The report calls for people’s well-being to... Read more

Following the launch of the Help to Work scheme today, Martin Sime, chief executive, SCVO said: “SCVO has consistently opposed this kind of mandatory activity that forces people to do unpaid work or face unfair sanctions. It’s particularly harmful at a time when many people are... Read more

We now have over 1,600 members for the first time ever. 45 new members were approved in March and are listed below. A big welcome to the SCVO family! Our new members continue to reflect the diverse range of organisations that make up Scotland’s third sector, ranging from small... Read more

SCVO Media Release Embargoed until 00.01 on 4 March 2014 NEW CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO TACKLE SCOTLAND’S “HUMANITARIAN CRISIS” More than 870,000 people in Scotland are living in poverty A fifth of children in Scotland are living below the breadline 23,000 people turned to food banks... Read more

Can you create and fill a job by 31 March 2014? Alex Salmond, First Minister and Angela Constance, Minister for Youth Employment have announced more funding for Community Jobs Scotland. They have allocated £4 million of funding for 2014–2015 which will create 1,200 Community Jobs... Read more

Alistair Darling MP, leader of the Better Together campaign Address to SCVO Annual Gathering, Thursday 20 February 2014 The work of the third sector, often in partnership with government and other organisations, is essential in improving the lives of people across Scotland. It’s... Read more

Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister Address to SCVO Annual Gathering, Wednesday 19 February 2014 Introduction Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here for the SCVO’s tenth annual gathering. The third sector has 45,000 organisations in Scotland, 130,000 employees, and more than a... Read more

SCVO media release New figures show vital role third sector plays in Scotland New figures released today (Wednesday 19 February) by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) show that the third sector’s turnover has grown to £4.9bn, having doubled over the last... Read more

Welfare, jobs, economy & health & social care to top agenda In key speaking appointments following last week’s currency union debate, the First Minister Alex Salmond MSP and Alistair Darling MP will set out the cases for and against remaining part of the UK for charities and the... Read more

An independent report released today shows that the second phase of Community Jobs Scotland (CJS) programme has created jobs for 1,420 young unemployed people in charities and third sector organisations in all parts of Scotland. John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish... Read more

41% of charities and third sector organisations grew in size in 2013 despite the difficult economic environment – an improvement on 2012 when just 31% of organisations increased in size Over three quarters (77%) of charities and third sector organisations expect demand to... Read more

Following the launch of the Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence today, Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “More than one million people are living in poverty in Scotland and 30% of our population don’t vote and will never set eyes on this weighty document. How... Read more

SCVO has published the first in a series of papers which lay out the third sector’s vision and ambitions for a Scotland of the future in the run-up to next year’s referendum. The report brings together thinking and ideas from across the third sector and will help to spark more... Read more

Thursday 21 November saw SCVO’s 70th AGM at the John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh. Find out what happened: Changes to SCVO management board Standing down from the management board Andrew Jackson (Royal Voluntary Service) Elected to the management board Michelle McCrindle (Food... Read more

New Community Jobs Scotland (CJS) programme targeted at young offenders. Read more

Dear Lord Wallace, Open letter on transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill 2013-14 We write to express our opposition to parts of the above Bill and to call on you to withdraw these draft regulations which we believe will cause great... Read more

It needs to focus on the big issues that matter to people More than half of charities think the debate is uninspiring and predictable. It’s missing the big issues that matter to them and people in Scotland – poverty, welfare, jobs, health and social care 40% of charities and... Read more

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is launching a new project which will invest in charities and third sector organisations in several localities across Scotland to help prepare them for the shift of health and social care services to local community level... Read more

Following George Osborne’s speech proposing that long-term unemployed people will be forced into community service, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, SCVO said: “The UK Government must stop this ritual humiliation of unemployed people “The so-called “Help to Work... Read more