SCVO

This event is fully booked, but you can add yourself to the waiting list - you will be notified by email if a place becomes available and your booking is confirmed

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Day

Tuesday 10 February

Time slot

16:15-17:45

Room

Pentland auditorium
Wheelchair accessible

Contact

Rachel Le Noan
07896805172

Overall aim

The Gathering hustings will enable participants to hear directly from party representatives about the issues that matter to you and the communities and people you support. The results of the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections will impact on voluntary organisations across Scotland, and this is a chance to ensure the voices of Scotland’s voluntary sector are heard loud and clear in the run-up to the election.

Come prepared to listen and engage.

The session will last 90mins and will be moderated by respected broadcaster, Rona Dougall.

There will be a chance to submit a question in advance of the session. SCVO will then consider all submissions and select a few to be answered on the day. We will ensure that a wide range of topics are up for debate.

Description

Join us for the Gathering hustings in the lead-up to election day!

We’re thrilled to welcome renowned broadcaster Rona Dougall as the host for this year’s event. Rona is a freelance journalist and also a popular TV presenter best known as the host of STV’s flagship current affairs programme ‘Scotland Tonight‘. She brings energy and professionalism, and we know she will make sure there’s an engaging discussion.

With just a few months until voters head to the polls, the hustings is your chance to hear directly from a panel of candidates about their vision for the sector, and their plans on how they would work with you to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges we are facing today.

Invitations to take part in the hustings event were sent to the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Greens, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. This reflected both recent polling trends and the parties currently represented in the Scottish Parliament. By adopting these criteria, we believe we are meeting the Electoral Commission’s guidelines on non-selective hustings.

As of ADD DATE OF PROGRAMME GOING LIVE we have received confirmation from the following political parties:- Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: Miles Briggs MSP- Scottish Greens: Gillian Mackay MSP- Scottish Labour Party: TBC- Scottish Liberal Democrats: Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP- Scottish National Party: Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

The results of the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections will impact on voluntary organisations across Scotland, and the hustings is a chance to ensure the voices of Scotland’s voluntary sector are heard loud and clear in the run-up to the 2026 Scottish parliamentary election.

Please note: Places are limited to 2 people per organisation. For security reasons, all delegates must be associated with an organisation upon registering. Thank you for your understanding.

Who is the event aimed at?

Directors, Managers, Trustees

Who is speaking at this event?

Rona Dougall – host

Panel:
- Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: Miles Briggs MSP
- Scottish Greens: Gillian Mackay MSP
- Scottish Labour Party: TBC
- Scottish Liberal Democrats: Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP
- Scottish National Party: Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

This event is fully booked, but you can add yourself to the waiting list - you will be notified by email if a place becomes available and your booking is confirmed

Join waiting list