Latest Fair Work news & opinion

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

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

SCVO wrote to Scottish MPs on the 5th of November following the UK Autumn Budget on the 30th of October 2024. As part of the Budget process, we write to draw your attention to the impact of proposed National Insurance changes on charities and other voluntary organisations. You... Read more

Responding to the Autumn Budget 2024, SCVO Chief Executive Anna Fowlie, said: “At a time when many voluntary organisations are facing severe financial difficulties, announcements in the UK budget place new strains on the sector, while cutting key funding that people and... Read more

Last week, on behalf of SCVO, I was invited to give evidence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee as part of the Committee’s Pre-budget Scrutiny focused on third sector funding principles. As the Committee shared in June, this inquiry examines, “how the Scottish... Read more

Congratulations on your appointment as Deputy First Minister of Scotland.  I very much look forward to working with you again in this new role. Read more