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SCVO spearheads public-voluntary taskforce

Finance | Gareth Jones | 17 Sep 2008

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has announced the creation of a ‘task group’ to improve co-ordination between Scotland’s third sector, local authorities and government.

Building on the success of the concordat signed last year between the Scottish government and local authorities, the group is co-chaired by SCVO convenor Alison Elliot (pictured) and Cllr Harry McGuigan, spokesperson on community wellbeing and safety for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA).

The group will look at how government and third sector organisations can work in partnership to deliver services, improve funding relations, build capacity and ensure evidence is collected to demonstrate the contribution of the third sector.

Elliot called the group “an historic first”.

“It coordinates the work of the Scottish government with that of local authorities and the public sector to ensure that the third sector is supported and developed.

“This will ensure that the voice of charities and third sector organisations is heard at the highest levels of government, both in Scotland, and locally. The third sector has a massive role in delivering high-quality services and projects on behalf of government, and this new group will ensure we can maximise that potential. ”

McGuigan added: “Local government has always recognised the value and importance of the voluntary sector and this has been enhanced further through a more strategic engagement with the third sector under the Concordat.

“The establishment of this task group is a very positive step forward and is of particular importance as in 2009 the Single Outcome Agreements will be signed off by Community Planning Partnerships.

“The third sector is a key contributor to the Community Planning Partnerships and it is our hope that this task group will improve and enhance that engagement.”

The full membership of the task group is:

• Harry McGuigan (spokesperson on community well-being and safety, CoSLA)
• Alison Elliot (convenor, SCVO)
• John Swinney (finance secretary, Scottish government)
• Tracey Slaven, (director, third sector division, Scottish government)
• Alan Dickson (chief executive, Capability Scotland)
• Catherine Hughson (CVS Shetland)
• David Anderson (chief executive, South Ayrshire Council, SOLACE)
• Alec Nicol, (deputy leader, Borders Council)

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