Policy blog

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

Joint letter to Smith Commission 10 October 2014 Lord Smith The Smith Commission 7th Floor One Atria 144 Morrison Street Edinburgh EH3 8EX Dear Lord Smith As representatives of some of the major interests in civil society in Scotland, we are well aware of the challenges facing... Read more

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has made an interim contribution to the Smith Commission, asking for a guarantee that people in Scotland will be given a real say in the devolution of more powers to Scotland. Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “We... Read more

Our politicians are denying people a decent life and we can’t let them get away with it Read more

Smith Commission on more powers for Scotland offers real chance to keep power with the people Read more

This has been a campaign like no other in Scottish history. The referendum result itself is only part of the story: the passion, engagement and grassroots activism that emerged over the last two years have been quite astonishing in an age supposedly defined by apathy. We don’t... Read more

Presentations from keynote speakers Dave Chaffey, CEO, Smart Insights shares his knowledge on integrating digital channels in not-for-profit marketing. Marta Peres Ro, Commonwealth Games Digital Producer, gives an insight into how UNICEF UK teamed up with Glasgow 201... Read more

What are the post referendum challenges and opportunities for carers? Read more

What does last week's referendum result mean for Scottish organisations dealing with the impact of welfare reforms in their communities? Read more

Last week saw Scotland’s most disenfranchised communities vote in favour of independence because the UK has left many of them poor and hungry Read more

SCVO – STUC – NUS Scotland - joint media statement 19 September 2014 The citizens of Scotland have made their decision and they must take the lead in shaping Scotland’s future Today the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC... Read more

Yesterday we showed that politics is not just for politicians. Let us carry that momentum forward. Read more

SCVO media statement 19 September 2014 Reflecting on the result of the referendum on Scottish independence, Martin Sime, Chief Executive, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “People have voted in unprecedented numbers and the debate showed there is an... Read more

The #BigBigDebate was a rare opportunity to find out what young people in Scotland have to say about the referendum. And it didn’t disappoint. Read more

There have been big changes in the European Commission but will that lead to a new way of doing things? Read more

Like many of us I won’t decide to say yes or no to independence until I'm in the voting booth Read more

I’ve been involved with the Community Empowerment Bill for around three years now and as time has passed its limitations have become increasingly apparent. I remember when it was “potentially the greatest transfer of power since devolution” but now some serious life needs to be... Read more

Hi! For those of you who don’t know me, my name’s Felix and I work in the charity sector.  And as we all know, that means that the only thing I am good for is knitting. Read more

Last week I had a dilemma. What to wear to a poverty and social exclusion conference? I know that seems shallow given the serious context, but something just feels wrong about sitting in a nice room in smart clothes discussing how many people can’t afford to clothe their kids... Read more

Let's be honest political parties and politicians only care about people who vote. It's all about getting elected. If you don't vote they don't care about you. They'll tell you they do but it’s the people who vote who get to enjoy the political “sweeties”. I'm always amazed this... Read more

The referendum’s legacy could be closer links between people and politicians Read more

The top question of the day is: why do so many working people in our most deprived communities think voting doesn’t make any difference. The reason: harsh experience and being let down time and time again. To them it's not a cliché to think that all politicians are the same, that... Read more

SCVO media release 28 July 2014 The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has joined forces with the STUC and the Daily Record for the Mission Million campaign to encourage the million people in Scotland currently unregistered to start using their vote. John Downie... Read more

The Third Sector in Scotland has been involved in the governance and implementation of European Structural Funds since the UK joined the EU. As the national body representing the interests of all Third Sector organisations in Scotland, SCVO secured support from the Scottish... Read more

Communities in East Dunbartonshire are making connections to tackle health inequalities in their area Read more

Building Healthier and Happier Communities is a national programme to improve the health and quality of life of people and communities across Scotland. It is starting in East Dunbartonshire, where SCVO is working on a pathfinder with East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA... Read more

Building Healthier and Happier Communities is a national programme to improve the health and quality of life of people and communities across Scotland. It’s starting in East Dunbartonshire, where SCVO is working on a pathfinder with East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA... Read more

Scotland and the world around it are changing. From demography to technology, environment to economy, faith to fiscal policy, nothing about our society is standing still. For the third sector, how Scotland changes in the next two to three years matters less than how it changes in... Read more

Thankfully for the vast majority of the sector the answer is likely to be “no” Read more

Friday 18 July 2014 would have been Nelson Mandela’s 96th birthday. More than 27 of his years were spent in prison, while a staggering 67 years were committed to public service. He lived a great life of struggle and achievement, and touched the lives of millions of people across... Read more

How could a consultation about improving voter participation have got it so wrong? Read more

Tackling poverty once and for all can be the legacy of the referendum debate Read more

Tailored support is now available from Building Healthier and Happier Communities in East Dunbartonshire. Before completing an Expression of Interest form please read the Guidance notes and for more information check out the Building Healthier and Happier Communities section of... Read more

Putting people at the heart of Scotland's future We want a Scotland that has a shared sense of purpose, is fair and prosperous, and where the entire population has the opportunity to participate on equal terms. This ambition is the biggest political, policy and practical... Read more

Policymakers must take heed of insight provided by people living in poverty in the Turning Up The Volume On Poverty report Read more

Focus on engaging communities rather than enabling community action makes the Community Empowerment Bill frustratingly inconsistent Read more

Over the last week a new chapter has opened in the attack on civil society's campaigning role, and not in China or Russia but right here in the UK Read more

We need to reverse the debate by asking what areas of responsibility should lie with each level of government, including local government and community councils. Read more

SCVO media release 9 June 2014 For immediate release NEED TO LEAVE BEHIND SCOTLAND’S ARCHAIC SYSTEM & HAVE FAIRER DISTRIBUTION OF LAND Five third sector organisations have joined forces to urge the Scottish Government to take early and decisive action on land reform. They have... Read more

Now we have a chance to really move forward on land reform Read more

John Downie responds to the second report from the Expert Working Group on Welfare. It’s a strong start, but if we don’t aim for more radical change, we all lose Read more

SCVO media comment Wed 4 June 2014 Ahead of the publication of the Expert Group on Welfare’s second report, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “It’s encouraging to see that the Group is aspiring towards a much more... Read more

Jill Wood, policy manager at Engender, takes a look at the referendum debate from a women's rights perspective. Read more

The Scottish Conservatives have set out their plans for more powers if Scotland says No on 18 September Read more

Charities in East Dunbartonshire are getting the help they need to provide more health and social care services in their communities Read more

SCVO media release 3 June 2014 NEW NATIONAL PROGRAMME GETS CHARITIES READY FOR SHIFT TO MORE LOCAL HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and partners today (Tuesday 3 June) launched Building Healthier and Happier Communities, a national... Read more

What does having UKIP in Scotland mean for the third sector? Read more

Slovenian civil society is seeing great results from its much more direct challenge to the private sector Read more

The debate around the referendum offers the opportunity for all of us to consider how we make sure that positive mental health is the foundation stone of a fair, equal and inclusive society for all. Read more

Stephen’s Story is one of a truly brave and inspiring young man who will help people for generations to come Read more

New Procurement Act has long way to go to deliver real change Read more