SCVO Briefing: Programme for Government

Our position

Voluntary organisations are at the heart of Scotland’s response to the biggest challenges we face — tackling poverty, improving health and wellbeing, supporting children and families, strengthening local economies, advancing climate action, building skills for the future, and much more besides.  

From mental health support to employability programmes, from sports clubs to social care, from community transport to creative arts — voluntary organisations deliver vital support to people and communities in every part of Scotland.  

They are trusted, rooted in communities, and are at the heart of a healthy society, a fair economy, and a strong democracy.   

The Scottish Government cannot meet the needs of people and communities alone. It needs a strong, sustainable voluntary sector.  

Our priorities

SCVO priorities have been shaped by the sector itself — through deep engagement and honest conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.  We are keen to work with partners across sectors to build a fairer, stronger Scotland, together.  

• Delivering fair funding – reforming public sector funding to be multi-year, flexible, sustainable, and accessible.We have published a new resource for the voluntary sector and decision-makers, outlining the importance of Fair Funding to every part of the sector. Evidence from our engagement — backed by the findings of the Scottish Third Sector Tracker — shows that the need to reform the public sector funding landscape for voluntary organisations has never been more pressing.
• Creating a partnership of equals – establishing a formal, long-term partnership between government and the sector that is set in statute. A partnership agreement would lay the groundwork for a new relationship, of equals, between the voluntary sector and the wider public sector — one that is consistent, accountable, and embedded across all levels of government. We welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to a Third Sector Partnership, and the impetus shown in progressing this agenda so soon after the election with a parliamentary debate in June. Our asks are elaborated in this paper.
• Commissioning with communities – embedding ethical commissioning and ending the default use of commercial procurement.Too often, public bodies default to procurement, creating rigid, complex processes that are disproportionately bureaucratic. This can exclude smaller, specialist organisations, with insufficient emphasis on quality, impact, and community need. This means communities lose out on the ingenuity, experience, and reach of voluntary organisations — a missed opportunity Scotland cannot afford.
• Public service reform - The voluntary sector must be at the heart of the government's programme of public service reform. While the Public Service Reform Strategy contains welcome commitments, we would welcome greater clarity on how the voluntary sector will be meaningfully involved in shaping and delivering reform, alongside clear expectations for delivery and accountability. You can read more in our briefing to MSPs from June this year.
• Modernising regulation – launching a comprehensive, independent review of charity regulation.Effective regulation builds public trust, supports sustainability, and ensures a fair operating environment for voluntary organisations.
• Securing the future of volunteering – reversing the long-term decline in participation through targeted action.Volunteering is vital to Scotland’s communities, economy, wellbeing, and underpins the success of the voluntary sector itself. From running community groups to national charities, volunteers make an essential contribution across Scotland every day.
• Protecting the sector’s voice – introducing anti-SLAPP legislation and safeguarding public interest advocacy. From small community organisations to larger organisations with a campaigning focus, voluntary organisations across Scotland advocate for social justice, amplify marginalised voices, and hold the powerful to account.
• Role of the sector in the economy - As the government takes forward its economic growth agenda, including the creation of a National Council for Economic Growth, it is important that the sector's role as a major employer, public service partner and source of community resilience is properly reflected in policy and decision-making.

Progress on these issues is essential to ensure a sustainable voluntary sector that can support people and communities across Scotland and contribute to the ambitions of the Scottish Government. SCVO looks forward to working with the Scottish Government and its partners to ensure action is taken on these issues to support the voluntary sector, our staff and volunteers, and the communities we work with over the course of this parliamentary term.  

Contact

Rachel Le Noan, Policy & Public Affairs Officer

Rachel.lenoan@scvo.scot