Rhetoric on building a fairer Scotland needs to be matched with new way of working with charities

SCVO media comment 26 November 2014 Following the announcement of the Scottish Government’s legislative programme, John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “The third sector has been calling for a fairer society, economy and democracy for many years and it’s very encouraging to see that the Scottish Government is on the same page with its new legislative programme which recognises that prosperity is not just about growing the economy, but about sharing wealth fairly to build thriving communities. “This renewed focus on giving power to people, championing the living wage and rebuilding our economy will be key building blocks on which to address the scars of poverty and inequality. But to make these ambitious goals a reality, the Scottish Government will need to rethink how it engages with the third sector and people on how and where it invests its funds. We are ready and waiting to work with the Scottish Government in its drive to make Scotland a fairer and better place for everyone. “This ambitious agenda from the First Minister will kick start important efforts to tackle Scotland’s generational issues around poverty and inequality, and really put social justice at the heart of the Scottish Government’s policies and actions.” ENDS Notes to editors:

1. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national body representing the interests of charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.  The Scottish third sector turns over £4.9 billion a year and employs 138,000 people in over 45,000 organisations.
2. Read the First Minister's full speech
3. To arrange further comment, please call Charlotte McNeill, Press Officer, SCVO on 0779 060 1995