A time of transitions and new agendas

As we move into mid-November, the last 18 months have been a roller coaster ride for many of us. Since the referendum, change has been so regular that it has simply been unable to predict what our sector's operating environment will be like in one year's time, let alone the next five years. The Scotland Bill is nearing its end-game within the UK Parliament. Who even knew there would be one just over a year ago? SCVO has worked hard to secure a number of commitments on the back of this Bill, including the need to address its impact on Gift Aid. See our Kate's excellent briefing for MPs summarising the big concerns our sector has had with this legislation since its inception. Here in Scotland, the Scottish Government's big Fairer Scotland Conversation is beginning to wrap up, as Ministers prepare to make sense of it all by the end of this year. If their interim report is anything to go by, then they have relied heavily on our sector in setting the terms and principles of this discussion - one about a socially just Scotland that values everyone's contribution to society. No bad thing. Political parties are now in full throttle trying to nail down their commitments for the Holyrood 2016 elections. The uncertain politics mean they have learned to build a lot of slack into their planning cycles. By no means is everything set and finalised; there is still ample opportunity for our sector to influence their big manifesto policies. In preparation for a third sector manifesto, we are sharing a briefing for political parties on what we think are some of the big issues that should be on the table. And a new set of agendas has unveiled itself. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 'favourited' by our First Minister, are surprisingly close to the domestic ambitions of many of our sector, taking in poverty and inequality, climate change and greater participation for people in the decisions that affect them. Civil society internationally is coalescing around the Open Government Partnership mechanism, which is becoming the main channel to influence the SDGs. Scotland will now contribute to the UK plan, while a big upcoming climate summit in Paris will pump up the 'S' in SDG. Spurred on by the proposal from the UK conservatives to repeal the Human Rights Act, a rights agenda is coming back into focus in a big way. The debate about staying or leaving the EU is driving open our attitude to rights, and it's not a pretty sight. The migrant crisis across Europe and the increasingly punitive approach to welfare and support here is splitting public opinion. Our sector's response to will be critical. Against all this, and a backdrop of suspicion about how our sector does its business, our sector needs to find a way to secure its own agenda for change. It's a critical moment for our sector during a time of immense change at Scottish, UK, Europe and International levels.