Social Capital
Social Capital is contested concept but one that is seen to encapsulate ideas of civic virtue, social bonds, community life, formal and informal networks, and social resources. This section of the website provides an outline on the key policy debate on Social Capital for the voluntary sector covering issues such as Added Value, Impact, Delivering Public Services, Community Cohesion, Capacity Building, the Scottish Compact, and Local Compacts.
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Volunteering
The Scottish Executive Volunteering Strategy 2004 illustrates a growing appreciation by policy makers of the impact of volunteering beyond calculations of hours given and participant numbers. The role of volunteering in building social capital, developing active communities and active citizenship, promoting personal development and in closing the opportunity gap are the focus current debate. Volunteering is a defining feature of voluntary organisations, from voluntary management committees to volunteer involvement in service delivery. This section addresses policy debate and issues around volunteering.
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Regeneration and Community Empowerment
Regeneration is a priority area for the Scottish Executive, working through its regeneration agency Communities Scotland, and with a current policy focus on closing the opportunity gap. This section explores key issues around community regeneration, including drives towards sustainable communities, neighbourhood renewal, social inclusion, community empowerment, better public services in disadvantaged areas and a wider role for registered social landlords in community regeneration.
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Governance
Governance deals with all the practical aspects of running a voluntary organisation / charity as an organisation for example, membership, trustees, procedures, charitable purpose(s), financial and accounting practices.
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Protection of Vulnerable Groups
The voluntary sector works with many of the most vulnerable groups in Scotland. This section looks at a number of issues and how they effect Scottish voluntary organisations. The section covers the protection of children, including the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 (known as POCSA - see page in our Information section), and the protection of vulnerable adults. Documents relating to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (previously known as the 'Bichard Bill') can be found here.
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Community Planning
The Local Government Scotland Act 2003 introduced Community Planning as the key mechanism for planning and providing public services. Led by local authorities, community planning based on a process of consultation and partnership between public bodies and with community bodies. A key milestone in this process is the integration of existing Social Inclusion Partnerships within community planning partnerships, for which Communities Scotland is responsible. This section explores key issues around community planning and voluntary sector engagement with the process.
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Civil Society
Civil society is an internationally recognised term that describes activities that arise directly from citizen action, are independent of the state and are not motivated by profit-making interests. Civil society organisations in Scotland, including voluntary organisations, trade unions, faith-based groups, professional associations and co-operatives have traditionally asserted their own distinctive identities. The term – and it s implication of a common ground identity - is gaining new currency in Scotland, reflecting global issues and concerns that cut across both the civil society ‘sectors’ outlined above and national boundaries. As it does so, so it is reflected in the policy debate as this section of the site illustrates.
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