Want to make a difference? Join the SCVO Policy Committee

In a recent conversation about elections to the SCVO Policy Committee, I was asked what makes public affairs and policy people get going in the morning. The thought behind the question was clear: policy wonks don’t really do much to help people in real life situations. They know little about struggling to find secure employment or deal with health conditions. Nor are they able to give useful advice on welfare rights, or point people toward local support services. The implication is that because policy professionals don’t directly help people they’re not effective. I tend to disagree.

For public affairs and policy people working to make Scotland a fairer place for everyone to live, the corridors of power are the front line

Campaigning and ‘lobbying’ - the bread and butter work of most of my policy colleagues - is crucial to maintaining a thriving third sector. For the many committed public affairs and policy people working to make Scotland a fairer place for everyone to live, the corridors of power are the front line. I have seen this time and again at SCVO through our many networks, especially our Policy Committee. This is where the collective expertise of 32 individuals from across the charity and voluntary sector shapes the agenda. The challenges are always huge. Take a recent example: following the Scottish elections, we thought we knew how the political landscape would look. Then the result of the EU referendum changed everything. And now the uncertainty of Brexit looms over our sector. At SCVO we've held meetings with our Policy Officers Network, Intermediaries Network and Policy Committee to gauge the weight of the sector’s concerns and get a handle on the likely impact. These meetings were followed by two roundtable discussions between our members and senior elected representatives - the first with the Minister of State at the Scotland Office, Lord Dunlop; the second with the Cabinet Secretaries for Communities, Social Security & Equalities and Fair Work, Jobs and Economy, Angela Constance and Keith Brown. Our Policy Committee members were front and centre in these meetings, putting across their organisations to individuals working at the highest levels of the UK and Scottish Governments. That’s the difference policy people make. By harnessing the influence of the SCVO Policy Committee, we have demonstrated how important the third sector is in influencing key decision makers on the issues that matter most. Charities and other third sector organisations are committed to changing the lives of people across the country. They need the right conditions to not just survive, but thrive. They need an environment in which their views are taken seriously, listened to and acted upon. If you want to play a part in helping our sector continue to grow strong, then joining SCVO’s Policy Committee is a brilliant place to start. Elections are currently being held for the SCVO Policy Committee. Nominations can be made online until 21 October 2016.