The Scottish third sector tracker: wave 1-8 key findings. (Summer 2021-Spring 2024)
This report presents key findings from the Scottish Third Sector Tracker, covering the period from August 2021 to April 2024. It updates some of the key metrics featured in the more detailed wave 1-6 report. The Tracker is a longitudinal panel survey with Scottish Third Sector organisations. It was established in early 2021, as part of the response to the challenging situation that the third sector was facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the project was to generate regular, robust and timely insights about the sector through the COVID recovery period. The data from the tracker continues to provide an essential source of timely information about how the sector is responding to a rapidly changing operating environment and the support that it needs.
Over the past three years, the Scottish third sector tracker (tracker) has gathered data and information on the sector's challenges and their impacts on organisations and the people and communities they support. The tracker paints a picture of resilience in the face of growing pressures. While around two-thirds of organisations have consistently delivered planned work since 2022, financial challenges have grown significantly. Rising costs and inflation have reached record highs, with 77% of organisations now facing financial difficulties. Many organisations are dipping into their reserves, with 60% finding this unsustainable, and fundraising difficulties at their highest level. Staffing challenges have eased slightly, but volunteer shortages continue to rise. Confidence in long-term survival remains, though the proportion "very confident" about operating a year from now has dropped to a record low of 53%.
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