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.
Beyond Level Zero
Scotland is now ‘Beyond level 0’. The external rules that restricted face to face activity have more or less ended.
But we know that many people still feel cautious. Organisations across the voluntary sector want to get the next few months right for employees, volunteers and the people accessing services.
I joined an event with NCVO last week about the concerns and support needs that they have been hearing across the sector in England. They have had a bit longer than us to get used to fewer legal restriction, but the concerns sounded quite familiar:
- Many organisations not ready for a full return to face-to-face activity
- Concerns about increased staff absence due to isolation and sickness
- Some conflict between board/staff/volunteers about approach organisations should adopt
- Serious concerns about impact of high case rates and low restrictions on most vulnerable
At SCVO we’ve been working hard throughout the crisis to provide responsive support as the rules have changed. We’re still here, and still doing all that we can to provide targeted information and help on the topics that matter most to the sector.
Our core Coronavirus Third Sector Info Hub content now has updated information on:
- Safer services and premises: key guidance on minimising risks of transmission in face to face services
- Coronavirus and your employees: including furlough, wellbeing, hybrid working and vaccination policies
As many of the covid-specific funds are now winding down we are working alongside funders to take the positive learning from the covid response into the return to usual grant-making. For a free and comprehensive search of all funding available across the sector see our refreshed Funding Scotland site.
We are continuing to deliver events and training courses with a focus on the immediate needs of the sector. Upcoming topics include accessible content design, social investment and Rise and Shine events to celebrate nominees for the Scottish Charity Awards.
We are taking some time to speak to members and organisations across the sector about how organisations are reacting to the new (lack of) rules and thinking about how to develop support in response.
As ever, we would love to hear directly from you if you feel there are gaps in our content or challenges we aren’t aware of. Drop me a line beth.mukushi@scvo.scot or find me on Twitter @betty_murphy
