The Scottish voluntary sector turns over £4.4 billion - and employs 137,000 people in more than 45,000 organisations. It has become the focus of increasing hope from policy-makers as an innovative alternative means for delivering public services, especially as economic adversity takes its toll on both the public and private sectors. Yet the voluntary – or third – sector is itself far from immune to the impacts of the spending squeeze. According to a recent poll by the Charities Aid Foundation, four out of ten charities are operating on less income than they budgeted for and more than half have been forced to dip into their reserves to meet running costs.
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Many Scottish voluntary organisations remain eager to become much more involved in designing and delivering public services, despite economic difficulties. Cuts in public sector funding seem certain to affect the quality and quantity of the services delivered to some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people. Many charities continue to share the view that their sector offers potential opportunities to deliver better core services in a more cost-efficient way, if the right policy framework can be found.
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Keynote speakers
Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
Director Scotland, Big Lottery Fund
Founder and Chairman, Columba 1400
Project Director, Third Sector Skills Partnership
Associate, The Centre for Confidence and Well-being
Director, Social Finance