Policy blog

Here is a chance to put public trust at the heart of fundraising Read more

Research suggests there’s a long way to go on disabilities, pay and poverty Read more

See what Jenny thinks about the Stage 2 committee session on the Lobbying (Scotland) Bill – which held some surprisingly good news for the sector. Read more

New rules on Lobbying will affect charities in the run up to May 2016 Read more

A packed policy diary lightens up a dreary Scots winter Read more

Lots of work taking place across Scotland around welfare reform Read more

Let me take you on a tour of some of the main points of interest for the third sector in the Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2016/17 Read more

Update following the summit in November Read more

Context SCVO’s report into charitable public fundraising in Scotland was published on 23 September, alongside a review conducted by Sir Stuart Etherington for the Cabinet Office of the UK Government. Both reports share the broad conclusions that the current arrangements are not... Read more

Scoping out the winners and losers in Chancellor's spending review Read more

SCVO media release 25 November 2015 Following George Osborne’s autumn statement today, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “The third sector in Scotland can claim two huge wins from the Chancellor’s autumn statement... Read more

What we're looking out for in #spendingreview Read more

It's make or break time for charities and the voluntary sector Read more

When it comes to fundraising, we need to return to our roots: trust, hope, compassion and opportunity Read more

Michael Grade or Jackie Bird - who would you chose to regulate fundraising in Scotland? Read more

Opportunity to make both donors and beneficiaries central in future model Read more

The Scotland Bill - so after Monday’s session in the Commons where are we? The most interesting addition to the Bill is the power to create new benefits in areas of devolved responsibility. It’s something that was promised by Smith, but until Monday had not looked likely to be... Read more

Legislation is negative for the Scottish third sector, especially smaller organisations Read more

Introduction Passed by the Conservative-led coalition government in January 2014, the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (better known as the ‘Lobbying Act’) significantly amended campaign and election law in the United Kingdom... Read more

Securing change in a vast and varied policy landscape Read more

Kate takes a look at the UK government's amendments to the Scotland Bill 2015-16 and asks if they deliver all that's been promised. Read more

Mike Andrews, Policy and Research Officer from ASH Scotland, reflects on how devolution helped his organisation to affect real change in attitudes to smoking in Scotland Read more

After three days of busy conferencing in Aberdeen, Jenny's in reflective mood Read more

Appearance before MPs is damaging to whole third sector Read more

Great leaps forward in housing policy since devolution, but huge challenges remain Read more

Policy Officer, Felix Spittal questions whether the new report ‘Holyrood exposed – a guide to Lobbying in Scotland’ is a helpful contribution to the debate on lobbying transparency in Scotland. Read more

If you're appalled, then you’ve got to shout about it Read more

Reflections on SCVO's review into fundraising in Scotland Read more

Latest #employability special warns about taking things for granted Read more

Today the Scottish Government launched its new public procurement guidance to promote fair work. Not the most exciting topic perhaps, but one that will influence how £10 billion of public money is spent. Under the new guidance, all local authorities, health boards and other... Read more

We’re crowdsourcing a third sector manifesto and we want your help Read more

Excellent opportunities to set the third sector policy agenda Read more

Empowerment in focus in latest #employability special Read more

Kate blogs about this week's #ScotlandBill event reflecting on what delegates heard from the Secretary of State for Scotland and what role the third sector has in shaping new powers. Read more

As part of our current work on #employability we are sharing a special series of blogs from sector experts Read more

Anna from Edinburgh Churches for Sanctuary reflects on the third sector response to the refugee crisis and what can be done to welcome refugees to Scotland. Read more

Policy Officer Felix Spittal looks at the 2015/2016 Programme for Government and gives his view on what it means for the third sector. Read more

People contribute to society in different ways at different times. They are driven by a need to support themselves and their families, share things with other people around them and do something meaningful with their lives. Sustainable and meaningful paid employment is the single... Read more

There are no guarantees that Scotland would create a more compassionate and caring benefits system says Lynn; we will need to fight for a different approach. Read more

The sector Ian Bell writes about in his article ‘What next: chuggers fundraising for the NHS?’ is definitely not one that I recognise or one that will be familiar to the people who work and volunteer for charitable organisations. Read more

Have your say on charity fundraising in Scotland Read more

Key findings 80% of Scottish charities receive some form of donations and fundraised income from the general public. Donations account for 11% of third sector income. In 2013 donations rose to an all-time high of £537 million, growing by £66 million between 2012 and 2013. This... Read more

Informal review of charity fundraising in Scotland 29 July 2015 The Scottish Government asked SCVO to undertake an informal review of public charity fundraising in Scotland to assess whether the existing framework for self-regulation of fundraising practice is sufficient to... Read more

SCVO media release 30 July 2015 The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has launched an informal review of fundraising in Scotland to assess whether or not the current system of public charity fundraising self-regulation is working. The review, which will report back by... Read more

U-Lab offers people in Scotland a new opportunity to join a global movement for change Read more

If politicians want greater transparency on lobbying, then they need to make the first move Read more

Lynn reflects on the Welfare Reform Bill as UK Government announces £20 billion further cuts Read more

Media stories about poor fundraising practices suit the welfare cuts agenda Read more

Budget will devastate people and families most in need Read more

As I watched #budget2015 unfold in a BBC studio just along the road from some of the most deprived areas in Scotland, I found little comfort for those families who, apparently, don’t work hard enough or who are “dependent” on welfare in the Chancellor’s view. Overuse of the... Read more

SCVO media release 8 July 2015 For immediate release Following George Osborne’s summer budget today, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “For the first time the Chancellor has finally admitted that his attack on the... Read more

Lynn critiques the planned social security cuts and calls on activists to stand tall and fight back Read more

Dunfermline Advocacy Development Worker, Ewan Masson, reflects on national conversation to create a 'Fairer Scotland' Read more

Social justice. It’s a phrase that has been around since the Scottish Parliament was founded back in 1999. Numerous initiatives, reports and task forces have surfaced over the years to tackle problem. Yet still we find it riding high on the political agenda. When Nicola Sturgeon... Read more

It's time for those most affected by benefit reforms and austerity measures to have their say Read more

Context Scotland’s First Minister has outlined her ambition for a socially just Scotland. This is to be founded on three key priorities – participation, prosperity and fairness. In practice we understand this to mean ending poverty, tackling inequalities, repositioning our... Read more

I’m sure I’m not alone in looking back and thinking that the skills I’ve learned since leaving school have been as important if not even more so than what I learned before. I have to admit to one exception: learning to touch type has saved me countless hours of pecking at the... Read more

I was lucky enough to hear Professor Wendy Loretto discussing her research on fuller working lives at the Scottish Parliament. To put this in context, I had a busy day at work and arrived a bit grumpy about having committed to an evening event. In my role I often find I am torn... Read more

Carers Week hides the challenges facing social care and unpaid carers and its legacy must be a review of a fractured care system. Read more

Among the pomp and ceremony of the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday was the announcement of the Scotland Bill 2015. This was followed quickly by a loud thud on Thursday as the Bill hit my desk. Read more

Yet ideologically driven policy and blaming the poor are the marks of the first Queen’s Speech from this majority Conservative Government. Read more

Well where to start with Europe? An upcoming referendum on EU membership? A debate on reform of the EU institutions’? A campaign to keep Scotland in the EU? There’s a lot to come, and we’ll be working hard to keep you informed so that you can have a say on it all. However, for... Read more

The reappointment of Mr Duncan Smith to "finish the job he started" has sounded the death knell for even the most basic of social security safety nets. Lynn reflects on the vital need for civil society to stand up and challenge what is to come. Read more

Lynn reflects on the fact that disability and caring have rarely featured in #GE2015 and the continued stigmatisation of people in poverty. Read more

With #GE2015 just two days away Felix wonders if this will be the first and last election affected by the Lobbying Act. Read more

In the second of our #GE2015 guest blogs, Aidan Collins from HIV Scotland argues for a humane and human approach to welfare as people living with, and at risk of, HIV continue to face challenges which breach the most basic of human rights. Read more

John blogs on why most people don't read manifestos. Read more

With just nine days to go till #GE2015, Heather Noller from Carers Trust Scotland guest blogs for SCVO about carers and what this General Election could mean for them. Read more

SCVO has pored over the main party manifestos in Scotland to save you time. Lynn blogs on manifesto madness and the fact that people remain cynical - at best - about election promises. Read more

Many may loathe seeing money being spent on fundraising, but investment now will ensure the sector can continue to provide high quality services and projects in the future. Read more

How charities can make the most of microvolunteering day Read more

Last week Jenny highlighted what issues were most important to the third sector in this election. In this blog Kate looks at how that’s changed compared with 2010. Read more

Policy and passion must be the mantra for the leadership debate tonight. Read more

With party campaigning beginning in earnest and ahead of tonight’s Scottish leaders debate Jenny takes a look at our General Election survey results. Read more

Kate hears the Thunderbirds theme tune and gets a little overexcited as the countdown to May 7th begins. Read more

Election predictions, welfare policy and human rights with Aidan Collins, HIV Scotland In the fourth of SCVO's Policy Podcasts, Policy Officer Jenny Bloomfield talks to Aidan Collins, Head of Policy and Campaigning at HIV Scotland. Listen below to find out: What Aidan's... Read more

Have you listened to the Chancellor’s recent budget statement? Read up on the new announcements? No? Well, don’t worry, SCVO have done the hard work for you! Scroll down for a summary of the main announcements, our thoughts and a comment from our Chief Executive on #budget201... Read more

In the week where the UK Government has announced a 3% increase in the minimum wage, and a 20% increase in the minimum wage for apprentices, we ask whether we will soon see an end to in-work poverty. Read more

The barriers to partnership working must be overcome if we are to mitigate the impact of welfare reform, austerity and poverty. Read more

Women undertake the bulk of care, childcare and housework but their contribution to the economy is undervalued and often ignored. Read more

Survey shows large numbers of staff want to leave the third sector due to low pay, short-term contracts and stress. Read more

The reaction to the Scottish Government's new economic strategy (especially by the private sector) has been fascinating. From a third sector perspective, the rhetoric is very encouraging. This is our territory and language. There isn’t much in the strategy in terms of... Read more

What you can do to help your employee find the killer content they need for their CV. Read more

Ian Marchant opened a fantastic event recently with a clip from Hitchhikers guide: 42 is the answer to life the universe and everything . It set the scene for a great discussion on the incredible pace of change, using his iPad as an example: “It’s more powerful than a 1970s... Read more

‘Aspire not to have more, but to be more’ Archbishop Oscar Romero Read more

SCVO media release 26 February 2015 Ditch rhetoric on social justice & focus on treating the causes not just the symptoms of poverty Hundreds of charity leaders from across Scotland will question Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities & Pensioners... Read more

1 Methodology 1.1 Primary research This research briefing is based on a survey of the third sector workforce, the first sector-wide survey of employees to be carried out since 1999, and the first time that employees across the whole of the third sector have had the opportunity to... Read more

SCVO media release 25 February 2015 Despite loving working in third sector 1 in 2 charity workers are looking for a new job for better pay & more job security The findings of a survey of more than 1,000 people working in charities and third sector organisations, published today... Read more

Ruchir discusses the need to change our approach to welfare reform mitigation in the face of increasingly negative mainstream party lines. Read more

How we're showcasing the unique ability of third sector organisations to improve health and wellbeing Read more

Apparently this week has been designated as Random Acts of Kindness week. I hadn’t realised until someone pointed out why there was free fudge in the office kitchen. It fits well with the plea made by one commentator on Safer Internet day earlier this week to fill the internet... Read more

What will matter to you in May? Have your say in SCVO's general election survey Read more

Early this morning I heard a great speaker on the radio for Safer Internet Day talking about the power of the internet to do good, to help more people and change the world. Their call to action was to fill the internet and social media with more good things. The content chimed... Read more

SCVO media release 6 February 2015 For immediate release Following the publication of the Scottish Parliament's Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee’s report on a register of lobbying, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for... Read more

Our pathfinder project for the national BHHC programme took place in East Dunbartonshire between October 2013 and March 2015. In the video below you can hear what people had to say about some of what was achieved. A number of updates from the project are also available to view... Read more

A new way of thinking… We would like to introduce you to a new and distinctive approach to building healthier and happier communities. Our approach is particularly relevant in the context of health and social care integration and wider public service reform as it: Provides a... Read more

Context The third sector already plays an important role in health and social care - but there is scope for us to make even more of a difference. That is why SCVO and a range of partners – the ALLIANCE, Carers Scotland, CHEX, CCPS, Evaluation Support Scotland, Inclusion Scotland... Read more

Commitment to maintaining dignity and respect As outlined in our Stage 1 briefing[i], SCVO and the wider third sector were supportive of the Committee’s recommendation that the ethos underpinning the Fund must be based on trust and respect for applicants[ii]. We continue to argue... Read more

I’ve received two emails in the last week about people leaving roles. Perhaps it’s the time of year and people are looking for a new challenge? The second email was from Dame Mary Marsh, founding Director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme. Mary started this fantastic... Read more

Three days ahead of its Burns Night deadline, the UK Government has published its draft legislation to enact the powers proposed by the Smith Commission. It’s fair to say that SCVO’s response to the Smith Commission’s proposals was… well to put it politely, mixed. So now the... Read more