SCVO launched our manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections after consulting with charities of all sizes across Scotland. The document sets out a clear, ambitious vision for the voluntary sector, grounded in evidence and directly shaped by the organisations we represent. The manifesto will continue influencing political conversations in the run-up to the 2026 election. 

The manifesto gained major national attention with a four-page Sunday Herald feature and interviews on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland and Lunchtime Live.   

Impact: The manifesto placed voluntary sector priorities firmly on the national agenda, strengthening SCVO’s role as the authoritative, trusted voice of Scotland’s charities, community groups and social enterprises. 

SCVO made significant progress advocating for fair, sustainable funding models in Scotland. The Scottish Government announced its largest-ever commitment to Fair Funding — a £60m two-year pilot benefiting 45 organisations. We know there is still a lot to do but this marks the a tangible national step toward longer-term, more stable funding arrangements, addressing one of the sector’s biggest challenges.  

We also played a key role in shaping the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant, making sure Scotland’s devolved context is recognised and Scottish organisations are represented. SCVO sits on the UK-wide steering group alongside NICVA and WCVA. 

SCVO’s Third Sector Tracker — now in its 10th wave — was a trusted source of real-time insight and a key evidence base behind our manifesto. Data has been cited in Parliament, used by national charities and referenced in the House of Lords. 

Impact: This work demonstrated SCVO’s influence at Scottish and UK levels, ensuring decisions reflect the real needs and experiences of Scotland’s voluntary sector. 

SCVO continued to lead the national response to digital exclusion. 4,500 people at risk of drug harm were supported with devices, connectivity and skills training through Digital Lifelines Scotland, delivered in partnership with 35 organisations. The programme distributed 3,000 devices, created 3,600 connections and trained 489 digital champions to support the most excluded people in Scotland. 

Winning a Holyrood Connect Digital Inclusion Award 2025, recognised our work and helped to position SCVO as the leading national organisation tackling digital inequality. We also relaunched the Digital Participation Charter, which now has 58 signatories across frontline charities, national bodies and public sector partners. 

SCVO also continued to push for systemic action. Our “Error 404: Digital Inclusion Still Not Found” report challenged the Scottish Government to take stronger leadership, offering clear recommendations for progress. 

Impact: SCVO is delivering practical help while shaping national policy — ensuring digital inclusion is recognised as a right, not a luxury. 

The Gathering 2025 was our biggest and most successful yet. Nearly 3,000 people took part in 80 events across two days, supported by over 200 contributors from SCVO and across Scotland. Importantly, 50% of attendees were first timers, demonstrating the Gathering’s growing reach to new audiences across the sector. 

A further 250 delegates attended the Gathering Extra online. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with an exceptional customer satisfaction score — the highest since the event began. 

Impact: The largest voluntary sector event in UK, the Gathering continued to connect organisations, funders, policy-makers, and communities — strengthening partnerships and amplifying the sector’s voice. 

In a tough financial and operating climate, SCVO membership grew to more than 3,700 members who have chosen to join our community and invest in being part of our national network. This reflects increasing recognition of SCVO’s support and influence, and in the value of SCVO membership benefits. 

Membership growth was driven by targeted engagement with smaller organisations – many of whom joined SCVO for free, regional events reaching organisations across Scotland, and “Making the Most of Membership” sessions that helped organisations access the services and membership benefits they need. 

Impact: More organisations than ever saw SCVO as a trusted partner and accessed our membership offer. This strengthened SCVO’s ability to advocate collectively for the sector and support members with all aspects of setting up and running their voluntary organisations.  

TFN cemented its position as Scotland’s leading media platform for the voluntary sector. Major stories, with action driven by SCVO, on National Insurance changes, fair funding, charity reserves, climate action and digital inclusion were also picked up by BBC, STV, iNews, The Herald, The Scotsman and others. Beyond TFN, SCVO spokespeople featured widely in TV, radio and print media, ensuring public debate reflects the sector’s experiences and that the sector’s voice reached a national audience. 

TFN’s investigative reporting gained international attention. Journalist Niall Christie was shortlisted for the prestigious Orwell Prize for reporting on Edinburgh’s housing emergency. This story reached global audiences and amplified the reality of Scotland’s housing crisis 

Impact: SCVO’s position as a voice for the sector continued to shape public conversation and ensure politicians, media and the public understand the contribution and challenges of Scotland’s voluntary sector. 

SCVO’s HR Service continued its rapid growth, supporting charities to be fair, confident and legally compliant employers. The service reached 162 subscribers, with a 91% retention rate and exceptionally high customer satisfaction results. 

New partnerships with Creative Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland will support over 50 cultural organisations to strengthen HR practices and embed Fair Work. We also launched a new Employers’ Network, providing peer-to-peer learning and practical support. 

Impact: SCVO is now a trusted national source of HR expertise, helping organisations improve employee experience, strengthen compliance and reduce risk. 

SCVO continued to lead the sector through rapid digital change. John Fitzgerald was named one of the top 100 UK charity voices in AI and authored the UK’s first practical guide to responsible AI in the voluntary sector. As Chair of the Scottish AI Alliance Community Advisory Group and a member of the UK Charity AI Task Force, he ensured charities are represented in national policy. 

On behalf of SCVO, John’s talks and workshops reached 800+ charity leaders and practitioners, helping them understand how to use AI responsibly, ethically and effectively. The UK Charity Digital Skills Report 2025 shows Scottish charities are now ahead of the UK average in AI readiness — a shift directly linked to SCVO’s leadership. 

Alongside this, our cyber security support and managed IT services helped voluntary organisations strengthen digital resilience, adopt stronger protections and build confidence online. 

Impact: SCVO helped charities harness technology to improve services and work smarter, while keeping people and ethics at the centre. 

The 2025 Scottish Charity Awards saw record levels of engagement. We received over 400 applications and recognised 41 finalists at a celebratory awards ceremony. More than 16,000 people voted in the People’s Choice Award, demonstrating strong public support for Scotland’s charities and volunteers. 

Coverage in local and national media helped finalists and winners raise awareness of their organisations, highlight their achievements and challenges and gain well-deserved recognition in their communities. 

Impact: The Awards celebrate excellence, raise the profile of the sector, and boost public support for charitable work across Scotland. 

SCVO retained its Investors in People Gold accreditation and made progress toward Platinum. The independent assessment showed exceptionally high staff satisfaction and value alignment. Notably, 100% of surveyed staff said SCVO has a positive impact on society and felt leadership modelled SCVO’s values and culture. 

Impact: This reflects SCVO as a high-performing, values-driven organisation that invests in its people and strengthens credibility with funders, partners and members.