Volunteer Scotland logo

Policy Publications

Browse our most recent consultation responses and our briefings for key decision-makers. Please get in touch to discuss an issue you think needs addressed.

Browse

Consultation Responses
Briefings

Consultation Responses

Community Wealth Building

May 2023

 In this response, we showcase the important contribution of volunteers to the Scottish Government's plans around Community Wealth Building, and advocate for volunteering to be better represented in associated legislation and guidance. We also highlight some potential challenges with the approach, including language, resource and third sector capacity.
Download PDF

Culture in Communities

April 2023

 This response explores the vital role of volunteers in community-based arts and culture. It also details the challenges facing community-based culture organisations, and their volunteers, at present and gives some recommendations for addressing these in Scotland's Culture Strategy.
Download PDF

Addressing Child Poverty through Parental Employment

April 2023

 Our response to this Bill reflects on the benefits of volunteering for parents looking to move into employment. It also highlights some of the key barriers to participation on volunteering for parents, and provides some tangible recommendations for addressing these.
Download PDF

Proposed Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill

March 2023

 In our response to this proposed Bill, we share our broad support but detail our concern that the scope of the Bill is too broad. From our experience advocating around volunteering, 'Wellbeing' touches on too many policy areas for this Bill to realistically succeed.
Download PDF

Disabled Employment Gap Inquiry

February 2023

 In this response, we explore the benefits of volunteering for disabled people, including supporting them with skills and attributes for employment. We also look at the significant barriers to volunteering for disabled people, meaning that they are often unable to realise the benefits of participation.
Download PDF

Scottish Government decision making 2023

February 2023

 This inquiry provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our experiences of Scottish Government decision-making, and make suggestions for more meaningful, accessible and transparent engagement with the voluntary sector when making decisions in the future.
Download PDF

Charity Law

February 2023

 This response reflects on the proposed changes detailed in the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill from the perspective of trustees, as volunteers. Whilst we largely welcome the proposed changes, we have provided some suggestions to further improve trustee diversity.
Download PDF

DCMS Project on Satellite Account for Civil Society

January 2023

 Our response addresses the case for volunteering evidence as part of a new satellite account. It also discusses associated methodological issues. Additional questions in the Labour Force Survey would provide a GB wide evidence base which would facilitate benchmarking.
Download PDF

Skills Delivery Landscape - Call for Evidence

December 2022

 In this response, we look at the vital role of volunteers in Scotland's skills development landscape. We explore the role of volunteers in supporting upskilling activity, including for young people and marginalised groups. We also discuss the personal development benefits of volunteering for participants, and reflect on the potential role of Skills Development Scotland for promoting volunteering as a development activity.
Download PDF

A national conversation to inform a new Dementia Strategy

December 2022

 In our response to the Scottish Government’s national conversation informing a new Dementia Strategy, we share the vital role of volunteers in supporting people with dementia. We also highlight the benefits of participation in volunteering for the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and their carers. We ask that the role of volunteering is acknowledged in a new Dementia Strategy to ensure that this activity is able to access the resource it needs.
Download PDF

National Discussion on Education

December 2022

 Our response to the National Discussion on Education, we explore the role of volunteers and volunteering in Scotland’s education system. We look at the many ways adult volunteers support the educational experience of children and young people, particularly those from marginalised groups, and the significant benefits of volunteer participation for children and young people. We then detail a range of asks, including that volunteering should become a core part of the curriculum.
Download PDF

Inquiry into female participation in sport and physical activity

December 2022

 This response to the inquiry from the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee details how volunteers have an important role in promoting the participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity. In particular, volunteers in community-based sport provide vital opportunities for women and girls to get involved and this has a significant bearing on female participation in elite sport given that many elite athletes start their careers in community-based sports clubs.
Download PDF

Covid - 19 Recovery

September 2022

 In our response to the pre-budget scrutiny consultation from the Covid -19 Revery Committee, we highlight the significant role of volunteers in supporting Scotland’s recovery. It also highlights the role of volunteers in responding to more recent challenges, such as the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis. We link the contribution of volunteers to Scotland’s ambition to become a Wellbeing Economy and ask that the upcoming budget prioritises resources to support volunteering.
Download PDF

Pandemic Labour Market

September 2022

 This response to the consultation on the impact of the pandemic on the Scottish labour market focuses on the role of volunteering in improving employability outcomes for participants. It also explores the significant contribution of volunteers to Scotland’s economy, and that participation in volunteering should be celebrated in its own right.
Download PDF

Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

September 2022

 In this response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, we answer specific questions which allow us to reinforce the intersectional wellbeing benefits of participating in volunteering, and the vital role of volunteers – both informal and formal - in addressing mental health and wellbeing. We also explore barriers to volunteering, and the significant challenges facing the voluntary sector at present, which could impact on mental health and wellbeing ambitions.
Download PDF

National Care Service

September 2022

 In our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill, we highlight some of our concerns about the Bill, particularly the lack of recognition that volunteers are a key part of the care workforce. We also reflect that more detail is required about how the voluntary sector will be meaningfully engaged in decision-making structures. We also reinforce the need to ensure that the principles of the Volunteer Charter are enshrined in the Bill, thus ensuring that volunteers are not engaged in roles that replace paid staff.
Download PDF

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

August 2022

 This response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for evidence regarding pre-budget scrutiny focuses on the fact that volunteers form a key part of the ‘workforce’ delivering services related to health and social care – both in statutory and community settings. It also reinforces that participation in volunteering has demonstrable health and wellbeing benefits.
Download PDF

Suicide Prevention Strategy

August 2022

 In our response to the Scottish Government consultation regarding a new Suicide Prevention Strategy, we frame our answers to the relevant questions in a way that reinforces the the vital role of volunteers in supporting suicide prevention work currently. We also reinforce the fact that volunteers in roles supporting individuals at increased risk of suicidal ideation require regular support and tailored training. We also call for the strategy to ensure that meaningful engagement with the voluntary sector is prioritised.
Download PDF

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24 Funding for Culture

August 2022

 This response to the pre-budget scrutiny consultation looking specifically at funding for culture, we explore the role of volunteering in supporting Scotland’s culture sector. We look at the many challenges that culture has faced in the past two years, and continues to face as a result of the cost of living crisis. We ask that the role of volunteering in culture is better represented in policy, and funding, for culture.
Download PDF

Pre-Budget Scrutiny Finance and Public Administration

August 2022

 This pre-budget scrutiny response, for the Finance and Public Administration committee, reinforces the need to consider volunteering when drafting or scrutinising budget decisions. It explores the role of volunteering in delivering health and social care priorities, and in responding to the cost of living crisis. It also reinforces the importance of ensuring that volunteers do not replace paid roles when looking at public service efficiencies.
Download PDF

Scottish Census

August 2022

 This short response to the CEEAC Committee Inquiry into Scotland’s Census asks that volunteering is better reflected in the census in future. In particular, it requests that a question about participation in volunteering is added, alongside the current question related to paid work. It also asks that volunteer management and the voluntary sector are better reflected in questions related to job titles and types of work.
Download PDF

Disability Commissioner

August 2022

 This response to Jeremy Balfour MSP’s consultation about the need for a Disability Commissioner focuses on the health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering, particularly for people with disabilities. It also highlights the significant barriers to volunteering for people with disabilities, and that addressing such barriers is vital for the success of Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan. Finally, it reinforces the need for dedicated resource to support inclusive volunteering, particularly when many organisations are facing significant financial strain.
Download PDF

Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People

June 2022

 In our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a new Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People, we shine a light on the vital role of volunteers in the delivery of health and social care services for the older generation. Volunteer-led services are often person-centred and empower people to stay in their homes and communities for longer. Volunteers also support clinical care settings and provide dignity in palliative care. We then reinforce the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in volunteering. Our asks relate to adequate resource/infrastructure, standards for volunteering, appropriate volunteering roles and social prescribing.
Download PDF

National Parks

June 2022

 In response to the Scottish Government’s Dialogue on the future of National Parks in Scotland, we propose that inclusive participation of volunteers should be central to deciding on the location and infrastructure for new National Parks. We explore the vital role of volunteers for protecting and maintaining National Parks, and the dual benefits of volunteering and spending time in the natural environment.
Download PDF

National Outcomes

April 2022

 This response to the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s inquiry into the National Performance Framework National Outcomes shares the extent to which the National Outcomes shape our work. They look at the link between the National Outcomes and the Volunteering for All framework, and the Volunteering Action Plan.
Download PDF

Briefings

Open Letter to next FM to prioritise volunteering

March 2023

 In this open letter to the three SNP leadership candidates, we reflect on the vital role of volunteering in achieving key Scottish Government priorties. We ask each candidate to prioritise volunteering if they are successful in becoming the SNP leader and our next First Minister.
Download PDF

Spring Statement: Joint Briefing

March 2023

 In this joint briefing with SCVO, we share key priorties for the UK Government to safeguard the the voluntary sector and volunteering in Scotland ahead of the Spring Budget statement on the 15th March 2023.
Download PDF

Volunteer Scotland’s response to the Deputy First Minister’s Budget Statement

December 2022

 Our response to the Scottish Government's budget announcement highlights the importance of financial support for volunteering, especially during the cost of living crisis. Volunteer involving organisations and volunteers have a critical role to play in helping to address the adverse financial, health and wellbeing and societal impacts. Without adequate support these lifeline services will be compromised.
Download PDF

Cost of living crisis: SCVO and Volunteer Scotland briefing for MPs

November 2022

 This briefing was shared with MPs from Scottish constituencies ahead of a face to face briefing at Westminster on the 30th November 2022. The purpose of the joint briefing is to share our concerns about the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering and the voluntary sector, and to ask for their support in influencing the UK government on several key issues which would help to mitigate the impact.
Download PDF

Letter to Shona Robison MSP: cost of living crisis and volunteering

November 2022

 This letter was sent to Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, on 30th November 2022. It was written jointly with members of the Cost of Living and Volunteering Task Group to share our concerns about the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteers and volunteering. It also details several key asks for the Scottish Government to help address our concerns.
Download PDF

Subscribe to keep up to date!

Sign up to receive our newsletters and get all the latest news and updates right to your inbox.
Sign up here