Latest Scottish & UK Budgets news & opinion

Over the past few months, the implications of the increase in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions for medium and large employers in the voluntary sector has attracted lots of media coverage. This has helped to increase public understanding of the precarious nature of... Read more

Summary Scotland’s voluntary sector plays an essential role in supporting people and communities across Scotland experiencing poverty and inequality and is central to the Scottish Government’s plans to eradicate child poverty and inequality. To support this work and build a... Read more

Summary The voluntary sector continues to face unprecedented challenges. Voluntary sector costs are climbing, funding is falling, and demand for services continues to increase. Plans to increase employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will compound these pressures. The... Read more

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance said that yesterday’s budget was one of hope. If you look hard enough, I do think there are glimmers of hope in there for Scotland’s voluntary sector, but overall I’m not sure it will do much to dispel the immediate sense of financial... Read more

SCVO’s Head of Policy and Research, Kirsten Hogg, said: “The chancellor's decision not to support voluntary sector employers with increasing National Insurance contributions is shortsighted, and belies a lack of understanding of our essential sector. We will continue to push... Read more

Ahead of the 2nd reading of the National Insurance Contributions Bill, SCVO's Chief Executive, Anna Fowlie, wrote to Scottish MPs. Below is the text of the letter, minus tailored constituency information. You can find constituency information for other MPs on the Geographical... Read more

Summary SCVO and colleagues across the voluntary sector welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver Fairer Funding for the sector by 2026, including exploring options to implement multi-year funding deals. Despite this renewed focus, 18 months on from the policy... Read more

Summary The voluntary sector continues to face unprecedented challenges. Voluntary sector costs are climbing, funding falling, and demand for services continuing to increase, as a result, eight out of ten organisations report that financial difficulties rank among their most... Read more

John Swinney MSP, First Minister Scottish Government 12 November 2024 Dear First Minister Autumn Budget 2024 As you have recognised in your recent public comments, the Chancellor’s intention to increase employers’ National Insurance contributions will have a significant impact on... Read more

Last week, following months of speculation, Britain’s first female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered Labour’s first Budget in 14 years. A historic moment and important opportunity.The Budget, the Chancellor promised, would invest, invest, invest, partly by raising taxes by £4... Read more