Tracey Bird

Last week the Charity Commission in England and Wales published its report into the safeguarding failures at Oxfam, which has determined to learn from past mistakes and implement the commission’s recommendations. The report should be vital reading for any trustee as it contains... Read more

1-7 June is Volunteers’ Week – a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. It’s also an opportunity to promote the diversity, value and power of volunteering in all its forms – from front line operational work... Read more

SCVO have just updated our charity bank account comparison table which we do every year. This offers a chance to remind trustees that they should also be regularly reviewing the financial management of their organisation to ensure it’s as effective as possible. OSCR have some... Read more

Annual reports matter because of what they represent and what they can do. So, if you dread having to prepare your annual report and look at it as a chore, then you’re missing a trick. Your annual report is an ideal opportunity to tell your story. You can showcase your... Read more

Spring is the season of new beginnings, which in terms of good governance can mean taking a look at recruiting new trustees to ensure your board is as effective as it can be. Effectiveness is one of the five principles of the Scottish Governance Code for the Third Sector which... Read more

There’s a lot of pressure on the third sector to become less dependent on grants and look at other ways of raising money. Any successful charity needs to have a diverse range of funding sources and income generation through trading can be an attractive prospect. But there are a... Read more

We know you’re out there… Do you have a third sector hero that you know and admire? Someone who goes that extra mile and shows commitment and drive? I think we all do. Well now’s your chance to shine a light on them, and give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them... Read more

COSLA have finally announced a deal with the SJC trade unions which is good news for the many third sector organisations in Scotland that use the scales to pay their staff. A three year pay offer has been agreed for 2018-2020, and SCVO members can access the new scales, as well... Read more

March 2019 - the days are getting longer, the weather brighter, and it’s time to get your organisation’s finances in order. This month is often the end of the financial year for many third sector organisations, and the race is on to set budgets for next year and get everything in... Read more

January saw me start the new year with a resolution to promote the Scottish Governance Code for the Third Sector With a call for trustees to get fit, governance style, I talked about how a board should make sure all of their organisation’s activities matched what they were set up... Read more