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.
Letter to Scottish MPs: UK Budget: Support the voluntary sector in your constituency
SCVO wrote to Scottish MPs ahead of the UK Budget on the 30th of October 2024.
Congratulations on your election.
In your constituency and across Scotland voluntary organisations play an essential role supporting people and communities. We hope that you can support our sector ahead of the UK Budget this month.
At Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), we have the privilege of representing Scotland’s diverse voluntary sector. Across Scotland, there are over 46,500 voluntary organisations, employing over 133,000 paid staff (5% of Scotland’s workforce), and working with over 1 million volunteers. Find out more here.
Unprecedented challenges
What our sector does, and the benefits it brings, are at risk, if it does not have the support and funding it needs to survive and thrive.
Our most recent research shows that 77% of voluntary organisations experience financial challenges, while increasing numbers are struggling to meet demand for their services.
The UK Budget
The UK Budget is an opportunity for the new Prime Minister to recognise and support the many contributions of voluntary organisations, their staff and their volunteers across Scotland.
To make progress the UK Government must:
- Move forward with multi-year funding
- Provide Scotland with a sustainable funding settlement
- Extend UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funding by a year, and provide much needed clarity on the future of the programme
Read our letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP.
We hope that you will be able to advocate for each of these calls in your work, and that there will be many opportunities for SCVO and Scotland’s voluntary sector to engage with you in your work as an MP.
To discuss any of these issues in this email further, please contact sheghley.ogilvie@scvo.scot.
We look forward to working with you.
Sheghley Ogilvie
Policy & Public Affairs Officer
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
Additional information
SCVO letter to Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer
SCVO/TSI Scotland Network letter to Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government
SCVO Briefing Scottish Government debate: The UK Budget – Scotland’s Priorities
