Policy blog

Organisations across the third sector have welcomed the Scottish Government’s aspirations to take a rights based approach to social security and are now calling for MSPs to support an amendment to the Social Security (Scotland) Bill, on the subject of independent advocacy. A... Read more

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been with us for well over two years, and now in our third year of action, my most recent blog looked at whether Scotland is moving towards a National Implementation Plan for the Goals. It’s been some time since the First Minister... Read more

There are some things that sit on your ‘to-do’ list for weeks, maybe even months. Things that you really want to do but just never get around to actually doing. It might be starting a new hobby, signing yourself up to that dreaded half marathon or volunteering for a good cause... Read more

In response to the Scottish Government's publication of ‘Protecting what matters – what’s at stake for individuals in the Brexit talks’, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “SCVO warmly welcomes this report... Read more

As a newcomer to the SCVO Policy Officers Network, I had never considered how the Sustainable Development Goals relate to my work, and their impact on policy and priorities in Scotland more broadly. This blog will look at how this works in practice for some elements of Goal three... Read more

Engagement Officer Allan Young says that despite good progress, human rights remain under threat - and we all need to protect them. Seventy years ago the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly. Since then, despite many setbacks... Read more

Let’s assume that you think open government is a good idea. You’d be hard placed to find someone in Scotland who would say otherwise – open sounds better than closed, right? That may be so, but do we really know what it means and why it’s a good idea? Are we sure of the value... Read more

On International Women’s day Sheghley Ogilvie looks at issues around gender equality, from ‘every day sexism’ to the serious social problems that stem from basic inequality. This week I went for lunch with a friend. We chatted about this and that and as we all do from time-to... Read more

On Thursday March 15th next week, a stramash of people frustrated with the way political decisions are made will descend on the Mac in Belfast. They will be binded by their concern for democracy, and the way in which society is being increasingly sidelined by greedy and power... Read more

I recently spoke at The Gathering, the annual event for Scotland’s charities and third sector organisations, run by SCVO. Alongside me on the panel were Dr Kendra Briken from the University of Strathclyde and Rhodri Davies from the Charities Aid Foundation. The question we were... Read more