Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

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Scottish Council for Voluntary OrganisationsAbbreviation| SCVO

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Formation| 1943 (1943)
Type| Umbrella body
Headquarters| 19A Canning Street, Edinburgh

Region

| Scotland
Membership| 2,300 (approx.)

Chief executive

| Anna Fowlie

Convener

| Richard Jennings
Staff| 100
Website| www.scvo.scot

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national membership body for Scotland’s voluntary organisations. SCVO's mission is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in building a flourishing society and support them to do work that has a positive impact.

SCVO is passionate about what the voluntary sector can achieve. Along with a community of 3,300 (approx.) members and supporters, SCVO believes that a thriving voluntary sector should be at the heart of a successful, fair and inclusive Scotland.

SCVO provides services and support to the third sector in Scotland to advance shared values and interests. The organisation employs approximately 100 staff.

## Aims

[edit]

SCVO’s aims are to:

* Be an authoritative voice for the voluntary sector
* Support a diverse sector
* Perform well to deliver success.[1]

## Governance

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SCVO is governed by a Management Board with representatives elected from its Policy Committee. Anna Fowlie has been Chief Executive since 23 April 2018, taking over from Martin Sime who held the role from 1991 to late 2017. Richard Jennings is the current convener.

## History

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The organisation was established on 1 October 1943 as the Scottish Council of Social Service (SCSS).[2] 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.

In 2003, the SCVO moved its headquarters to the newly restored and repurposed Mansfield Place Church in Edinburgh.

SCVO hosted the 6th, 7th and 8th CIVICUS World Assemblies in 2006, 2007 and 2008.[3]

## Current work

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SCVO supports the third sector in Scotland in a variety of ways, including

* Lobbying and campaigning on behalf of the sector
* Running training, conferences and events
* Providing services and deals to members
* Managing jobs and employability initiatives

## SCVO Credit Union

[edit]

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.[4] It is a member of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited,[5] 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.[6]

## Sister organisations

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* National Council for Voluntary Organisations (England)
* Wales Council for Voluntary Action (Wales)
* Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (Northern Ireland)
* The Wheel (Ireland)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About SCVO - SCVO". Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Archived from the original on 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
2. ^ "Scottish Council of Social Service. Co-operative effort needed". The Glasgow Herald. 7 June 1943. p. 5. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
3. ^ "CIVICUS World Assemblies". www.civicus.org. CIVICUS. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
4. ^ "SCVO Credit Union". Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
5. ^ Credit unions in membership of ABCUL Association of British Credit Unions (retrieved 1 November 2014)
6. ^ Credit Union Guide Financial Services Compensation Scheme (retrieved 2 April 2015)

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Credit unions in the United Kingdom

Community|

* Commsave
* The Co-op
* Eastern Savings and Loans
* Leeds City
* Lincolnshire
* London Capital
* London Community
* London Mutual
* London Plus
* Plaid Cymru
* Thamesbank
* Wandsworth Plus
* White Rose

Industrial|

* Changemaker
* Churches' Mutual
* 1st Class
* Unity
* NFRN
* National Fire Savers
* NHS
* OU Employees
* PCS
* Penny Post
* Plane Saver
* Police Credit Union
* retailCURe
* RMT
* SCVO
* TCU Money

Dissolved|

* District of Canterbury
* East London
* Hornsey Co-operative
* North London
* North West London
* Radio Taxicabs

Associations|

* Association of British Credit Unions (GB)
* Irish League of Credit Unions (NI)
* Ulster Federation of Credit Unions (NI)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

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