• SCVO
    • The Gathering
    • Scottish Charity Awards
    • Funding Scotland
    • Goodmoves
    • TFN
    • Sign in / sign up
    • Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Sign in
Forgot your password? Reset password
Don't have an account? Sign up
Sign up

Not registered for an SCVO Account?

Sign up below to create your SCVO Account. Fill in your details and we'll send you a link to verify your email address.
You'll have the option create an individual account or to link your account to an organisation. If your organisation's an SCVO member or supporter, you'll have immediate access to exclusive content and benefits.
Privacy notice

Already have an account? Sign in

Sign in / sign up

Sign in

Forgot your password? Reset password
Illustration of a mother and child

Not registered for an SCVO Account?

Sign up below to create your SCVO Account. Fill in your details and we'll send you a link to verify your email address.
You'll have the option create an individual account or to link your account to an organisation. If your organisation's an SCVO member or supporter, you'll have immediate access to exclusive content and benefits.
Privacy notice

Account password reset

Complete the form below to receive a link to change your password

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Join our community
About Support & learning Events Services Funding Jobs & employability Policy & research
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
  • Home
  • About
  • Support & learning
  • Events
  • Services
  • Funding
  • Jobs & employability
  • Policy & research
Our sites
  • Coronavirus Info Hub
  • Funding Scotland
  • Goodmoves
  • TFN
  • SCVO Membership
  • SCVO
  • Policy & research
  • Economic actor

Economic actor

We will ensure that the Scottish voluntary sector is recognised as a significant social and economic actor.

The voluntary sector’s huge role in our economy extends well beyond the 100,000+ people it employs and an annual turnover of over £6 billion.

The Scottish voluntary sector works with 1.4 million volunteers and plays a key role in ensuring that the Scottish economy supports people and communities to live a fulfilled life.

Despite this, the voluntary sector’s economic contribution is often unnoticed. We will ensure our sector is recognised as the vital social and economic actor that we are. In 2021, we have commissioned a series of articles from leaders in the voluntary, public and private sectors to explore our understanding of the role of the sector in the economy.

Precarious and unsustainable funding risks our sectors contribution to the economy and society. We need reliable funding. To achieve this the way public funding is allocated must change. We will champion new funding models and fair access to the Scottish National Investment Bank, procurement, and youth employability programmes.  

Together we can build a wellbeing economy. 

Allan Young leads our policy work in this area.

Read SCVO’s voluntary sector in the economy article series

  • Coronavirus
  • Europe
  • Economic actor
  • Employer
  • Partnerships
  • Regulation
Get involved

Collaborate with us to develop voluntary sector policy perspectives for Scotland.

Find out more

Latest news

Purpose, profit and the voluntary sector
David McNeill David McNeill
28 June 2022
“Overlooked”: Voluntary sector body reacts to Scottish Government’s four-year spending plans for public services. 
Press release
31 May 2022
Let’s unleash the power of people and build community wealth
Neil McInroy Neil McInroy
25 April 2022
See more

Briefings & consultations

SCVO proposals for the Scottish Government: Programme for Government 2022/23
Sheghley Ogilvie Sheghley Ogilvie
30 June 2022
SCVO response to SCDI Business with Purpose Commission
David McNeill David McNeill
28 June 2022
SCVO response to the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s National Performance Framework inquiry
Paul Bradley Paul Bradley
14 April 2022
See more

Research

Coronavirus and its impact on the Scottish Voluntary Sector: a review of literature
Steve Grozier Steve Grozier
17 September 2020
State of the Sector: pre-Coronavirus
Ilse Mackinnon Ilse Mackinnon
30 June 2020
Community Capacity & Resilience Fund – Interim Report
Zoe Westwood Zoe Westwood
29 February 2016
  Our achievements
Find out more about what SCVO has been doing.
Find out more
  Membership benefits
About our members offer.
Find out more
Join our community

Contact

How to get in touch with our staff

Social

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Soundcloud
  • YouTube

Help

  • Accessibility policy
  • Transparency & open data
  • Environmental policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Feedback & complaints

About

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Find out more

© 2022. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations