SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations)

⚡ After two superb days at the Gathering, we're all charged up and ready to bring you the Gathering Extra online next month! 📣 The Gathering Extra is your opportunity to catch up online on the bits you missed from the #SCVOGathering from the comfort of your own home or office. 🎙️ We'll have real-time event hosts - the excellent Maddie Stark and Manish Joshi, live chats, and special guests from across the sector bringing you curated, recorded content from the Gathering. 🌟 Re-live the energy of the Gathering by tuning in online on Wednesday 5 March for a day of thought-provoking reflections, discussions and ideas. Just like the Gathering, this event is absolutely free to attend. We can't wait to welcome you ⬇️ https://buff.ly/4aOkS6i

And that’s a wrap on the #SCVOGathering – our biggest one yet! 🥳 The atmosphere was electric from start to finish with thousands of amazing people bringing along bundles of energy, enthusiasm and excitement to celebrate our vibrant voluntary sector. Special thanks to everyone who played a part in making this year's Gathering so brilliant – our delegates, event hosts, exhibitors, sponsors and partners. It was another unforgettable two days and we hope everyone who came along left feeling motivated, inspired and more connected with colleagues from across the sector. Watch out for more of our official photos and a full Gathering round-up coming soon... 📸 If you didn’t make it along to the Gathering and want to enjoy some of our sessions, make sure you book your spot at the Gathering Extra online on Wednesday 5th March where we’ll have real-time event hosts, live chats and special guests along with curated, recorded content from the past two days: https://lnkd.in/eibykrEx Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd Aspen People CCLA Investment Management Utility Aid ACOSVO Social Enterprise Scotland Volunteer Scotland EVOC #SCVOGathering #SCVO #VoluntarySector #Scotland

We’re back for day 2 of our biggest ever Gathering! 🎉 We’ve lined up another interesting and interactive day for delegates with a busy programme of workshops, seminars and networking – plus all our excellent exhibitors are back with information, advice and activities to make the most of too. If you’re an SCVO member, make sure you pop by the SCVO stand to take part in our competition to win a professionally made film for your organisation. We also have a limited supply of aluminium water bottles up for grabs too… Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd Aspen People CCLA Investment Management Utility Aid ACOSVO Social Enterprise Scotland Volunteer Scotland EVOC #SCVOGathering #SCVO #VoluntarySector #Scotland

Day one of the #SCVOGathering has come to an end and what a packed day it was! From all the engaging discussions at our sessions and workshops, to our interactive activities and performances, and not forgetting our popular exhibition – what more could we possibly squeeze in…? 🏆 How about the launch of this year’s Scottish Charity Awards?! That’s right – with the help of some special guests from Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, Fife Young Carers and Third Force News we’ve just announced that applications have now opened for 2025! With 10 awards categories to apply for this year, and the chance to be shortlisted for the People’s Choice award as a finalist, the #ScotCharityAwards are an excellent way to celebrate the impact made by your organisation, volunteers, staff and trustees. Find out more and apply by 12 noon on 7 March 2025 ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eCsqnCvs We’re off to re-charge and can’t wait to get right back at it in the morning. See you all tomorrow for day two! #SCVOGathering #SCVO #VoluntarySector #Scotland

It’s only lunchtime and there’s already been so much happening at the Gathering! We’ve heard Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown talk on our sector’s key role in society and achieving the Scottish Government’s priorities. Our exhibition has been buzzing and our delegates have enjoyed a whole host of engaging sessions covering a breadth of important topics such as advancing anti-racism, employer supported volunteering, and lobbying – with plenty to come today including tackling the climate emergency, good governance, social media dilemmas, and more! The fun never stops - even at lunchtime - with delegates going for a stroll with Paths for All and a tour with Invisible Cities. To top all that off, we were all treated to a joyous performance from the Keynotes choir too 🎶 We’ll be back soon - stay tuned for an exciting update from us later today… #SCVOGathering #SCVO #VoluntarySector #Scotland

Good morning from the Gathering! 🌅🥳 The doors are open, and we’re ready to welcome more than 3,650 delegates over the next two days to our biggest ever Gathering at the EICC. We’ve got an incredible first day ahead with inspiring events that include conversations with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as well as loads of opportunities for people across our essential sector to learn, share, and connect. Drop by the SCVO stand behind the registration desks to say hello when you arrive! If you’re an SCVO member, while you’re there enter our competition to win a professionally-made film for your organisation, and don’t forget to grab one of our complimentary aluminium water bottles too… We can’t wait to welcome you all! #SCVOGathering #SCVO #VoluntarySector #Scotland Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd Aspen People CCLA Investment Management Utility Aid ACOSVO Social Enterprise Scotland Volunteer Scotland EVOC

We can't wait to welcome thousands of incredible people from across the sector and beyond to the Gathering tomorrow! 🤩 📨 If you'll be joining us - check your inbox. We've emailed you with everything you need to know to help you plan your visit. 🔔 Important information about the event including registration opening times, getting to the EICC, accessibility and inclusivity, catering, and our greener Gathering plans can also be found on our website ➡️ https://buff.ly/40J0pet 👏 Special thanks to our #SCVOGathering headline sponsor Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, our gold sponsors Aspen People, CCLA Investment Management, and Utility Aid, and all our partners, hosts and exhibitors for helping us keep the Gathering free for everyone. ✅ Can't make it along to the Gathering in-person? We've got you covered. Book your free place for the Gathering Extra on 5th March - an online event with real-time hosts, live chats and special guests featuring curated, recorded content from the Gathering! ⬇️ https://buff.ly/3WFYqXl

You made it to the end of January 🙏 Start February off right by coming along to the Gathering next week - the UK's largest FREE event for the voluntary sector! We're bringing a packed programme of seminars and workshops to the EICC, plus our popular exhibition featuring exhibitors from across the voluntary, public and private sectors. It's not too late to book. Join us for the chance to learn something new, connect with sector colleagues, and discuss the issues that matter to you and your voluntary organisation! Check out our programme and book your free event places ⬇️ https://buff.ly/4jAcsnc #SCVOGathering #VoluntarySector #networking #learning

“As the scale of the impact of increased National Insurance contributions for medium and larger voluntary organisations begins to be understood, it is bitterly disappointing the Chancellor has not changed course. “We are deeply concerned at the reported hole in Scotland’s public finances and are disappointed no provision has yet been made to meet increased costs to voluntary sector employers within the Scottish budget. “Voluntary sector funding must cover the full costs of employing staff. Employers cannot absorb these new costs. Some organisations face costs of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Adequate resource, and clear commitment, from our political leaders is urgently needed– the essential services and support our communities rely on depend on it." We've shared our full response to comments from the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, that the public sector in Scotland will have to “absorb” a £200 million shortfall due to the UK government’s decision to increase employers’ National Insurance contributions ⬇️ https://buff.ly/4glEj7C #NIC #NationalInsuranceContributions #ScottishBudget #policy #VoluntarySector #EssentialSector

Massive thanks to Holyrood Magazine for speaking to Jason Henderson from SCVO's policy team on the mounting pressures are pushing the voluntary sector towards breaking point. Read Jason's interview alongside other voluntary sector voices: https://buff.ly/3E3CK0O