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Supporting Scotland's vibrant voluntary sector

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.

Transforming the economy

SCVO believes in an inclusive and sustainable economy that values and benefits the voluntary sector. We will respond to the way the economy develops to ensure voluntary organisations have opportunities to demonstrate their role as economic actors and influence decision-making in this area. 

Current areas of focus

We help decision makers across sectors understand the invaluable economic contribution made by voluntary organisations to Scottish society, including but not limited to its substantial role as an employer. 

We work closely with Ewan Aitken who is the voluntary sector’s representative on NSET Delivery Board to ensure that voluntary organisations are understood as a crucial part of driving social and economic wellbeing in Scotland.

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We work with partners including the Fraser of Allander Institute and the Royal Society of Edinburgh to better understand and articulate the voluntary sector’s role in the economy. 

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We want the Scottish Government to address the omission of the sector and to make more visible and accessible links between policies and the NPF. We believe that new indicators on the sustainability and the economic value of the sector should be developed in time for the 2028 review. 

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Through our Chief Executive Anna Fowlie’s role on the Scottish Government’s Community Wealth Building Steering Group, we are committed to amplifying and championing the views of the sector, to ensure national legislation reflects what is needed in communities, and the sector is recognised as a valued partner in the delivery of CWB in Scotland. 

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We work closely with partners on the implementation of the TCA to ensure that the Scottish voluntary sector is included, heard and understood. Irene Oldfather is SCVO’s representative on the current UK Domestic Advisory Group (DAG). 

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We gather robust up-to-date evidence demonstrating the role of voluntary organisations as significant employers and their impact on local and Scottish economies.   

Contact the team

Kyrstie Brown

Lobbying Act, Access to banking

Jason Henderson

Review of charity regulation, Charities Bill 2023, Procurement Frameworks

David Livey

National Performance Framework

Related news & opinion

The latest news, comment, and opinion from SCVO relating to transforming the economy

Related briefings & policy papers

The latest briefings, consultation responses, and policies from SCVO relating to transforming the economy

Progress & latest developments

The work of this subgroup is still in early stages and we continue to work in collaboration with members and partners to gather evidence on the sector’s role as an employer, or as a key actor in community wealth building. We also share findings and raise the profile of the sector by presenting at various events. If you would like to share your views on any on the topics outlined below, please get in touch. 

  • Community Wealth Building event at the Gathering in November. 
  • Workshop on the role of the sector in the economy at the Third Sector in Parliament conference in September. 
  • Next DAG and CSF meetings due in the autumn as part of TCA. 
  • New research to be published this autumn on the sector’s workforce and its role as an employer. 

Perfect storm could see voluntary groups shut - SCVO's Paul Bradley highlights the data from our Third Sector tracker and the worrying picture it paints for Scotland's voluntary sector in the coming months

https://youtu.be/Jf3BCU0Dq9M

Get involved

Collaborate with us and our members to develop and promote voluntary sector policy perspectives for Scotland