Abbreviation SCVO Type Umbrella body Membership 1400 (approx.) | Formation 1943 (1943) | |
Headquarters Mansfield Traquair Centre, Edinburgh | ||
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national membership body for Scotland’s charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. SCVO works to support people to take voluntary action to help themselves and others, and to bring about social change. It provides services and support to the third sector in Scotland to advance shared values and interests. SCVO has approximately 1,500 members, ranging from individuals and grassroots groups, to Scotland-wide organisations and intermediary bodies. The organisation employs approximately 100 staff.
Contents
Aims
SCVO’s aims are to:
Governance
SCVO is governed by a Management Board with representatives elected from its Policy Committee. Martin Sime has been chief executive since 1991. Alison Elliot became convener in 2007. Shulah Allan is the current convener as from November 2013.
History
The organisation was established on 1 October 1943 as the Scottish Council of Social Service (SCSS). During its first years much of the Council’s work was dictated by wartime need and its immediate aftermath.
In 1983 the Council’s name was changed to the Scottish Council for Community and Voluntary Organisations with the working title of Voluntary Action for Scotland. In 1986 the name Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations was adopted.
SCVO hosted the 6th, 7th and 8th CIVICUS World Assemblies in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Current work
SCVO supports the third sector in Scotland in a variety of ways, including
SCVO Credit Union
SCVO Credit Union Limited is a savings and loans co-operative established in 1998 for employees and open to anybody who is a trustee, employee or voluntary worker for any charitable organisation which is a registered member. It is a member of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA. Ultimately, like the banks and building societies, members’ savings are protected against business failure by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.