The Scottish Government’s policy prospectus, New leadership - A fresh start, committed to delivering,Rather than reporting progress, voluntary organisations continue to experience delayed payments –even,As a result of these pressures, this year the Poverty Alliance’s Challenge Poverty Week policy asks echo,Introduce multi-year funding across a number of Scottish Government funds and report on the impact of,Establish transparent delivery goals, timelines, and accountability mechanisms – such as reporting and

SCVO policy submissions, engagement, and research with the sector throughout 22-23.,Expand existing monthly reporting: Include all significant spend, not just amounts over £25,000, in the,monthly reports the government currently publishes and improve categories to ensure data is useful and,Establish transparent delivery goals, timelines, and accountability mechanisms – such as reporting and,The Scottish Government should report on the impact of this change to inform and develop a multi-year

Scotland’s voluntary sector Scotland’s voluntary sector plays a central role in achieving the three policy,priorities discussed by the First Minister’s in the Policy Prospectus, New leadership - A fresh start,Introduce multi-year funding across a number of Scottish Government funds and report on the impact of,Evidence that this policy will lead to change Several recent enquiries and reports have made a case for,Who will this policy support?

an interim measure, include all significant spend, not just amounts over £25,000, in the monthly reports,Currently, the Scottish Government publishes monthly reports on government spend over £25,000.,These reports provide useful information on amount, grant recipient and department.,The Scottish Exchequer: fiscal transparency discovery report recognises that a fuller understanding of,Who will this policy support?

We welcome the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s Stage 1 Report which further highlights,As the Social Justice and Social Security Committee has explained in its Stage 1 Report, “a variety of,As the Stage 1 Report states, “stakeholders explicitly stated the review must be independent and carried,SCVO continues to have concerns, shared by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee in its report,Contact Jason Henderson Policy and Public Affairs OfficerScottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

Contact Paul Bradley, SCVO's Policy & Public Affairs Manager, at paul.bradley@scvo.scot.

Our submission draws upon: The Scottish Third Sector Tracker - wave 5 summary report (Winter 2022)SCVO's,Of the organisations surveyed, 67% reported shortages and issues with staffing and volunteers, 67% reported,policy provides us with genuine concern.,As we see it, the policy needs resourcing.,Contact Paul Bradley, Policy and Public Affairs Manager – paul.bradley@scvo.scot

In the first instance, the publication online of a clear policy statement relating to the impact on Work,More than half of voluntary organisations in Scotland reporting rising costs have seen their services,The DWP have produced a policy statement on this issue but have not permitted its publication online.,impact made by volunteersdevelop skills through training and useful volunteer development tools, policies,for voluntary organisationspromote and grow volunteering through partners, funders, Government, and policy

the sector in its review of economic inactivity, this is also an opportunity for charities to shape policy,pensions secretary to review the issues holding people back from employment (economic inactivity) and report,need to set aside as safety buffers, and allow them to invest money from life insurance and pension policies,Analysis All benefits rising by 10.1% is not new, it is the default policy but is a big deal for poorer,Contact Sheghley Ogilvie Policy and Public Affairs Officer, SCVO sheghley.ogilvie@scvo.scot