Cross Party Group on Volunteering and the Voluntary Sector set up
Leading figures
from across the voluntary sector came together in the Scottish Parliament last
week to set up a new Cross Party Group on volunteering and the voluntary
sector.
The meeting, which
was convened by Labour’s deputy leader Johann Lamont MSP, saw the election of
the convener, vice-convener, secretary and treasurer, as well as setting out the
group’s aims.
Ms Lamont was
elected as convener with Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown taking on the role
of vice-convener. The Scottish Council
for Voluntary Organisations was nominated to act as secretary and Crossreach
will be the treasurer.
Sarah Boyack MSP
and Mary Mulligan MSP were also in attendance and raised concerns about the
voluntary sector’s relationship with local government and the effects of the
current financial crisis and impending cuts on the sector.
The group included
representatives from Edinburgh’s
Volunteers Centre and Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, as well as key figures from
national organisations like Quarriers, VDS and the Voluntary Action Fund. Suggestions of possible work strands for the
new group included examining what impact the compact process had had on
voluntary organisations across Scotland,
as well as looking at developing a national volunteering strategy.
Anyone interested in
being involved in the group should contact enquiries@scvo.org.uk
SCVO calls on Swinney to intervene in budget cuts
Thursday 4th February
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Economic Growth, today faced calls for him to intervene in a series of budget cuts proposed by City of Edinburgh Council officials. The proposals could see voluntary groups in the city loose up to 100% of their funding and includes a massive cut to the Eke-Out Project, a department of EVOC, which enables a Network of voluntary organisations for children, young people and families to contribute their expertise and help plan the services they deliver.
More from the Edinburgh Evening News here
See the letter from SCVO to John Swinney here
See SCVO's letter to Council leader Jenny Dawe here
Rural Equalities Network launches new online forum
The Scottish Rural Equality Network (SREN) now has a new online discussion forum: www.scvo.org.uk/srenonline. If you work on rural equalities issues, register now to get support and information and share your own experience and expertise.
Joint Task Group issues statement on local relationships
The importance of including charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises in local decision making bodies is captured in a joint statement from the Joint Third Sector Task Group. The statement comes just over a year since the Task Group was established, bringing together the Scottish Government, Cosla, Solace and representatives from the third sector, led by SCVO. Download the statement here.