Policy blog

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

Lack of jobs, lack of funding, and a high cost of living. What can be done to help rural communities become more sustainable? Read more

SCVO media release 22 January 2015 For immediate release Following the publication of draft legislation on more powers for Scotland, Martin Sime, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “The piecemeal proposals put forward by the Smith... Read more

Tax dodging and ducking the minimum wage aren’t okay, but they’re happening across Britain today – and we’re all losing out because of it. Read more

I came back to work after maternity leave in November. It felt like the post referendum age was a time of possibility and people in all walks of life were thinking about how we might make Scotland and the world a better place. But now two weeks into the New Year, I can’t help... Read more

Despite the introduction of the Lobbying Act, charities refuse to be pushed out of the debate. Read more

Our sector is changing and changing fast. We’re not just witnessing a change in working practices but a generational change in leadership. At the ACOSVO conference at the end of last year, the change in age of the delegates was evident by hair colour. There were a lot less grey... Read more

With Smith giving powers over job support to Scotland there’s a huge opportunity for the third sector to show off what it can do. Read more

In good faith, we hope to see opportunities to create a more empowering approach to social security, post Smith Read more

Ruchir explores the implications of the Smith Commission report for Gift Aid, VAT rebates, and the social investment tax relief scheme. Read more

It’s fantastic that the Smith Commission recommends the devolution of power over elections. It looks like votes for 16 and 17-year-olds are coming to Scotland! Read more

The Smith Commission's recommendation to devolve the Crown Estate is an important step, but the proposals for radical land reform announced in the legislative programme show how much can be achieved with existing powers.  Read more

A new report from SCVO highlights the human cost of welfare reform - and it is a price too high to pay. Read more

SCVO media comment 4 December 2014 Following today’s announcement that the UK Government is extending contracts to deliver its Work Programme, Lucy McTernan, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “We are utterly appalled by the UK Government... Read more

SCVO media comment 4 December 2014 Welfare changes causing depression, fear & destitution SCVO's latest research on the impact of welfare reform on frontline charities shows that cuts, and poor management of them, is subjecting people to abject poverty through no fault of their... Read more

Report summary In this report SCVO presents third sector perspectives on the impact of welfare reform on the people and communities it supports in Scotland. It is based on research carried out by SCVO during summer 2014. It builds on an earlier SCVO mapping study which reported... Read more

Do we really need another charity giving campaign? We’ve just had the hyped-up shopping binges of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and now today we have a new online campaign to encourage people to give their time and money to good causes under the #givingtuesday banner. When told... Read more

SCVO media comment 27 November 2014 Time to invest in what works to create real jobs for people Lucy McTernan, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “John Swinney will soon have the power to scrap the Work Programme in Scotland and we urge... Read more

SCVO media comment 27 November 2014 Smith’s personal recommendation to devolve more power to people and communities very encouraging Following the publication of the Smith Commission recommendations today, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, SCVO said: “We’ve said all along... Read more

SCVO media comment 26 November 2014 Following the announcement of the Scottish Government’s legislative programme, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “The third sector has been calling for a fairer society, economy... Read more

Lynn argues that Government needs to face up to its failure to tackle inequality, both at Holyrood and at Westminster. Read more

What does an Icelandic general assembly first held over a thousand years ago have in common with the Scottish Rural Parliament first held in Oban earlier this month? Find out in this blog from SCVO Head of Rural Policy Norman MacAskill. Read more

Rhetorical question: can something really be called a ‘snapshot’ when it takes five months to produce? Every two years SCVO data elves analyse hundreds of third sector annual accounts to produce a snapshot of the sector’s finances and analyse the key trends in the sector’s income... Read more

SCVO media release 20 November 2014 To deliver on new First Minister’s mission to tackle poverty & inequality, Scottish Government needs to invest more in third sector Following a £200m (20%) drop from 2010-2013, public funding now only makes up 34% (£1.7bn) of charities’ income... Read more

Background This is the first in a series of research briefings which outline the headline findings of SCVO’s 2014 panel survey, and gives an overview of how the third sector funds its work and where it spends its money. The figures are based on detailed analysis of annual... Read more

Lynn blogs in advance of the Tackling Inequality event at this week’s SCVO Third Sector summit on the opportunities for change Read more

Iain Gordon from Bethany Christian Trust takes a look at how our sector can help create a fairer, more equal society in post-referendum Scotland. Read more

SCVO media release 14 November 2014 For immediate release TAP INTO ENERGY OF REFERENDUM & SMITH COMMISSION TO BUILD DEMOCRACY THAT WORKS FOR PEOPLE SCVO has published a report calling for a rethink of democracy in Scotland, so that it works for the vulnerable people whose lives... Read more

Ten tips on encouraging people to join your board. Read more

This week the first UK Treasury transparency letters to taxpayers detailing how taxes are spent land on doorsteps. Is this a case of more information or a blatant attempt to gain votes? Read more

The two main parties in Scotland are likely to undergo some real changes as new leaders settle in and seek to make their mark. The choices they make will have a profound effect on people’s lives and that makes me think about my own future, and the challenges that unpaid carers... Read more

And it’s all set to help community groups take the first steps in the creation of income-generating enterprises Read more

Submitting a coordinated third sector response to the Smith Commission is just the beginning... Read more

31 October 2014 Piecemeal top-down approach to devolution won't work Following a wide spread consultation with the third sector across Scotland, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has used its submission to the Smith Commission on more powers for Scotland to... Read more

Increases in the living wage would have more of an impact if more employers were committed to paying it. Our sector has a role to play in leading the living wage revolution. Read more

It's just five weeks to go until a global day dedicated to giving to charity & everyone can get involved Read more

Hopefully tonight's Benefits Britain programme will expose the major problems around Universal Credit rather than taking another cheap shot at claimants. Read more

John wonders why economic thinking in Scotland is so far behind the curve Read more

As Challenge Poverty Week draws to a close, Lynn issues a call to arms Read more

20 November 2014 | 200 SVS, Glasgow | FREE | #tss14 The Third Sector Summit, hosted by SCVO and partners, will be packed with free events and workshops suited to the diverse organisations that make up the third sector in Scotland. Booking for the Third Sector Summit is now closed... Read more

Beyond the hype about new tax powers, there aren’t any particularly exciting announcements for the third sector in Swinney's latest budget. He is, however, putting a wad of cash into housing, health, and community-based energy. So, let’s take a closer look. For housing, there's... Read more