Fair Funding in Scotland ======================== ![Illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/headers/montage-two.png?version=) Over the last few years, SCVO has been engaging with organisations across the voluntary sector to collect evidence on the issues and barriers faced when accessing and receiving funding. The evidence we have collected demonstrates the urgent need for Fair Funding – an array of policy asks and principles that we have been calling for since late 2022. Our calls are primarily directed at the Scottish Government; however, the wider principles apply to all funders, including local government and independent funders. Fair Funding is about ensuring a voluntary sector funding landscape that is fair, flexible, sustainable, and accessible. **[Read about the package of asks](https://scvo.scot/policy/fair-funding-procurement/fair-funding/what-is-fair-funding)** Promising progress has been made over the last few years, but further action is needed. This extensive resource aims to move the conversation forward and fully highlight why Fair Funding is so urgently needed. Below you’ll find an extensive, ever-increasing resource doing exactly that – outlining the reality for organisations on the frontlines across government priorities, sector-wide themes, and areas of work, while giving a voice to those who have experienced the consequences of the current funding environment and recognise the vital the need for Fair Funding for organisations across our essential sector. If you are keen to support this work go further, please also check out the **[Get Involved in Fair Funding](#get-involved)** section below. Our Fair Funding partners ------------------------- .ff-partners\_\_grid{ display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center; gap:1.75rem 2.5rem;margin:0; } .ff-partners\_\_item{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;} .ff-partners\_\_logo{ /\* bounding box: square logos reach full height, wide logos held by width so they balance \*/ width:auto;height:auto;max-height:80px;max-width:150px;object-fit:contain;display:block; } @media (max-width:768px){ .ff-partners\_\_grid{gap:1.5rem 2rem;} .ff-partners\_\_logo{max-height:66px;max-width:128px;} } @media (max-width:480px){ .ff-partners{padding:1.5rem 1rem;} .ff-partners\_\_grid{gap:1.25rem 1.5rem;} .ff-partners\_\_logo{max-height:56px;max-width:108px;} } [![The Poverty Alliance](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Poverty-Alliance.png)](https://www.povertyalliance.org/) [![Social Enterprise Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-SES.png)](https://socialenterprise.scot/) [![The Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE)](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/ALLIANCE_transparent.png)](https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/) [![SCCAN](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/sccan-logo.png)](https://sccan.scot/) [![SURF](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-SURF-1.png)](https://surf.scot/) [![Inspiring Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/inspiring-scotland-logo.png)](https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/) [![Scottish Community Alliance](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-SCA-1.png)](https://www.scottishcommunityalliance.org.uk/) [![Unite CYWNFP RISC](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Unite-RISC-2.png)](https://www.unitetheunion.org/) [![Volunteer Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Volunteer-Scotland.png)](https://www.volunteerscotland.net/) [![Walk Wheel Cycle Trust](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Walk-Wheel-Cycle-Trust.png)](https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/) [![South East Integration Network (SEIN)](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-SEIN.png)](https://www.seinglasgow.org.uk/) [![Children in Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Children-in-Scotland.png)](https://childreninscotland.org.uk/) [![Community Transport Association](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Community-Transport-Association.png)](https://ctauk.org/) [![Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-HEADSHOT-CJVSF.png)](https://www.ccpscotland.org/cjvsf/) [![Culture Counts](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Culture-Counts.png)](https://culturecounts.scot/) [![Voluntary Health Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Voluntary-Health-Scotland-1.png)](https://vhscotland.org.uk/) [![Quarriers](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-Quarriers-001.png)](https://www.quarriers.org.uk/) [![Human Rights Consortium Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-HRC.png)](https://www.hrcscotland.org/) [![Coalition of Care & Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/ccps-logo.png)](https://www.ccpscotland.org/) [![The Scottish Sports Association](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/FOREWORD-LOGO-The-SSA.png)](https://thessa.org.uk) [![Apex Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-APEX-Scotland.png)](https://www.apexscotland.org.uk/) [![CHAI](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-CHAI.png)](https://chaiedinburgh.org.uk/) [![Greener Kirkcaldy](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/Greener-Kirkcaldy.png)](https://www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/) [![Red Chair Highland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/red-chair-highland-logo.png)](https://www.redchairhighland.scot/) [![William Grant Foundation](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/WGF-1.png)](https://www.williamgrantfoundation.org.uk/) [![Food Train](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-Food-Train.png)](https://thefoodtrain.co.uk/) [![Women on Wheels](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-Women-on-Wheels.png)](https://womenonwheels.org.uk/) [![SHAWN](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-SHAWN-2.png)](http://www.sharpenher.org.uk/) [![HcL Transport](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-HcL.png)](https://www.hcltransport.org.uk/) [![Employment Forces Charity / NOVA Scotland](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-Forces-Employment-Nova-Scotland.png)](https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk/programmes/nova-scotland/) [![Independent Arts Projects](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/IAPWB-1.png)](https://www.independentartsprojects.com/) [![WGHC](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/wghc-logo.png)](https://www.westgrantonhousing.coop/) [![SIAA](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/07/CASE-STUDY-LOGO-SIAA.png)](https://www.siaa.org.uk/) ![](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/06/ANNA-FOWLIE-hs_plec_400x400.png) **Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive – SCVO** Four in every five households in Scotland interact with charities and the voluntary sector every year. And yet the financial climate means the sector is more fragile than ever before, and charities and voluntary organisations are having to scale back their operations or close for good. **Read more** At a time when demand for support from the voluntary sector is rising, we need a funding landscape that is fair, flexible, sustainable and accessible to ensure that organisations can provide the services and projects that are vital to communities across Scotland and further afield. This can only be achieved by guaranteeing Fair Funding that includes longer-term funding models, ensures processes are proportionate, accessible and consistent, and provides more unrestricted funding with in-built uplifts to reflect rising costs of delivery. There has been some progress, primarily with the Scottish Government’s commitment to Fairer Funding which, so far, has included a pilot of two-year funding tranches and a pledge to ensure more timely notifications. But it barely scratches the surface. The Scottish Government’s four priorities – eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, ensuring sustainable public services, and tackling the climate emergency – will not be achieved without a strong, secure, and sustainable voluntary sector. But our sector will only continue to become more insecure and less sustainable, the longer Scottish Government, local government and other public authorities make the political choice not to implement Fair Funding in full. Continuing to take Scotland’s essential sector for granted lets down families and communities across Scotland and will ensure that the Scottish Government’s four key objectives will not be realised. Scotland’s charities, community organisations, and social enterprises are a fundamental cornerstone of our society and economy. It is essential that the slow and inadequate progress on Fairer Funding is driven with greater urgency, a better understanding of the reality on the ground, and a full commitment to implement Fair Funding now. All the research shows a growing fragility which is detrimental to us all. It’s time to give these organisations, and the people they serve, the respect and stability that they need. ![](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/06/JASON-HENDERSON-hs_plec_400x400.png) **Jason Henderson, Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Fair Funding Lead) – SCVO** Over the last few years, the support for SCVO’s Fair Funding calls, which has grown relatively organically, has been incredible. Across the length and breadth of the sector, organisations of all shape, sizes, and focus, have championed Fair Funding, taken ownership of those calls, incorporated its principles in their own campaigning work, and included Fair Funding within their own manifestos. **Read more** Fair Funding is thus not just the policy asks of SCVO - it is the demand of Scotland’s essential voluntary sector. However, over the past year, SCVO members and others across the sector have asked us for more in this space. We have heard that, as important as the Fair Funding work has been and as encouraging as progress has been, the next steps should focus on a reframing of that work. It should focus on telling the firsthand stories of those battling with an unfair funding landscape on daily basis, shining a light on the endless areas of work that the sector is crucially involved in, and amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines. That is what this piece of work intends to do. Working with valued partners across multiple sectors and governmental priority areas, we have sought to highlight the damaging impact of unfair and unsustainable funding practices right across Scotland We will continue to add to it with additional themes and voices from across the sector. Because the voluntary sector is not a homogenous blob. It is an array of incredible organisations and dedicated individuals, without whom no government priority can be achieved or portfolio can be successful, working across an inexhaustive number of areas and providing an invaluable level of services and support. There is no eradication of child poverty, no tackling of the climate emergency, no building of a flourishing Scotland, and no availability of the crucial services communities across the country depend on without a sustainable voluntary sector. And there is no sustainable voluntary sector without Fair Funding. ![](https://files.scvo.scot/2026/06/FairFunding-Fresh-Start-Scotland-1400x400px.jpg) **Government priorities, sector-wide themes, and areas of work** ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Eradicating child poverty ------------------------- How a stable, fairly funded voluntary sector is essential to the Scottish Government's top priority of ending child poverty. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/eradicating-child-poverty) [ Growing the economy ------------------- Why the voluntary sector is a significant, often overlooked economic player, and how Fair Funding would strengthen its contribution. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/growing-the-economy) [ Delivering sustainable public services -------------------------------------- How voluntary organisations help deliver Scotland's public services, and why Fair Funding is needed to sustain them. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/delivering-sustainable-public-services) [ Tackling the climate emergency ------------------------------ How community-led climate action depends on stable, multi-year funding rather than short-term, stop-start grants. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/tackling-the-climate-emergency) [ Supporting local communities ---------------------------- Why local organisations, which make up most of the sector, need fair and sustainable funding to keep serving their communities. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/supporting-local-communities) [ Distributing & allocating funding --------------------------------- How grant-makers, many of them voluntary organisations themselves, face the same pressures and already model Fair Funding principles. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/distributing-allocating-funding) [ The role of intermediaries -------------------------- Why the umbrella and network bodies that support other organisations need stable funding to sustain the wider sector. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/the-role-of-intermediaries) [ Sector workforce & Fair Work ---------------------------- How funding insecurity undermines pay, job security and Fair Work across the voluntary sector workforce. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/sector-workforce-fair-work) [ Volunteering opportunities -------------------------- Why fair and sustainable funding is needed to recruit, support and retain Scotland's volunteers. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/volunteering-opportunities) [ Active travel ------------- How walking, wheeling and cycling organisations deliver major public benefits but are held back by annual funding cycles. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/active-travel) [ Antiracism & integration ------------------------ Why sustained funding matters for the organisations building inclusive communities and tackling rising racism. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/antiracism-integration) [ Children & young people ----------------------- How short-term funding disrupts the long-term, relationship-based work that supports children and families. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/children-young-people) [ Community transport ------------------- Why the services that keep people connected depend on funding that keeps pace with rising costs. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/community-transport) [ Crime & justice --------------- How stable funding enables the relationship-based work that reduces reoffending and supports desistance. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/crime-justice) [ Culture & creativity -------------------- Why a complex funding landscape leaves cultural organisations fragile, and how Fair Funding would help. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/culture-creativity) [ Health ------ How the voluntary sector's preventative, community-based health work depends on long-term, sustainable funding. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/health) [ Housing & homelessness ---------------------- Why organisations on the frontline of Scotland's housing emergency need fair, multi-year funding. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/housing-homelessness) [ Human rights & advocacy ----------------------- How independent, sustainably funded organisations are essential to protecting rights and holding power to account. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/human-rights-advocacy) [ Sport ----- How grassroots sport delivers wide benefits but is undermined by standstill investment and short-term funding. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/sport) [ Social care ----------- Why fair funding for social care providers is essential to a sustainable sector and fair work for its workforce. ](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/social-care) What is Fair Funding? --------------------- Fair Funding is central to a sustainable voluntary sector in Scotland. It includes, but is not limited to, longer-term funding of three years or more, flexible unrestricted funding, timely payments, more accessible application processes, sustainable funding which incorporates inflation-based uplifts, and transparent approaches to monitoring and reporting. **[Find out more](/policy/fair-funding-procurement/fair-funding/what-is-fair-funding)** Get Involved in Fair Funding ---------------------------- In the coming weeks and months, we intend to bring forward some calls to action, additional ways in which organisations can come together to demand that the Scottish Government aligns its Fairer Funding commitment with our Fair Funding calls and to show their support for our ongoing work in this area. In the meantime, please do read the contents below – either in full or the sections that matter most to you. Utilise what you find in your own influencing work and discussions with decision-makers, and share this resource on your social media channels. And crucially, if your organisation works within an area that you do not see represented here, let us know by e-mailing Jason at [**jason.henderson@scvo.scot**](mailto:jason.henderson@scvo.scot)**.** We want to work in collaboration with more organisations to continue showing the real impact our sector has, as well as the barriers that current funding practices impose. We also want to identify and champion good practice where we find it. So, please do help us add to this resource as we continue to show that there is no part of Scottish society that is untouched by our sector and, as a result, would not see vast improvement with Fair Funding. [Pledge my support](#modal_pledge) Latest news & opinion --------------------- The latest **Fair Funding & procurement** news and blogs. [ ](/about/people/contacts/staff/0050N000007uvBoQAI/rachel-le-noan "Read more by Rachel Le Noan") **[SCVO Briefing: Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector](/p/105252/2026/06/15/scvo-briefing-strengthening-scotlands-partnership-with-the-third-sectorscvo-briefing)** 15 June 2026 [ ](/about/people/contacts/staff/0050N000007ajEiQAI/anna-fowlie "Read more by Anna Fowlie") **[Letter to the First Minister: Challenges facing the voluntary sector](/p/104776/2026/05/25/letter-to-the-first-minister-challenges-facing-the-voluntary-sector)** 25 May 2026 [ ](/about/people/contacts/staff/005b0000003bH2VAAU/sheghley-ogilvie "Read more by Sheghley Ogilvie") **[Letter to the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic: Investing in Communities Fund](/p/103003/2026/01/26/letter-to-the-deputy-first-minister-of-scotland-and-the-cabinet-secretary-for-economy-and-gaelic-investing-in-communities-fund)** 26 January 2026 ### [![Third Force News](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-assets/test/scvo/images/logos/tfn-lochan.svg?version=0.0.1508)](https://tfn.scot)Related news  [Read more](https://tfn.scot/news) [ ![Placeholder illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/placeholder.png?version=) #### Campaigners urge Universal Credit reform 14 July 2026 ](https://tfn.scot/news/campaigners-urge-universal-credit-reform "Campaigners urge Universal Credit reform") [ ![Placeholder illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/placeholder.png?version=) #### Postal services holding rural communities back 14 July 2026 ](https://tfn.scot/news/postal-services-holding-rural-communities-back "Postal services holding rural communities back") [ ![Placeholder illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/placeholder.png?version=) #### Calls for shift from crisis response as new homelessness fund welcomed 14 July 2026 ](https://tfn.scot/news/sector-calls-for-shift-from-crisis-response-as-new-homelessness-fund-welcomed "Calls for shift from crisis response as new homelessness fund welcomed") --- ## About SCVO SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector. Our role is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in Scotland and to support them to do work that has a positive impact. SCVO supports members and the wider voluntary sector with all aspects of setting up and running a voluntary organisation. SCVO represents the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector to the Scottish government in Holyrood and UK government and Westminster. Through our learning and events programme SCVO offers training and development opportunities to the sector. Members access an extensive membership benefits package including specialist, in-depth, 1-to-1 guidance from our Information Services team and from professional service partners. Access to exclusive membership networks (including comms, employers, governance and policy) supports members to grow their connections, stay up to date, exchange ideas and views with peers, and learn through tailored, learning opportunities. SCVO members enjoy free access to Funding Scotland Premium to stay on top of funding opportunities to support their organisation’s financial resilience. Discounts and savings savings on SCVO products and services (including our HR service, managed IT support, payroll service and events and training) and partner offers provide members with support to allow them to focus on delivering their organisation’s goals. Further SCVO products and services include [extensive digital support](https://scvo.scot/support/digital), a climate action resource [Growing Climate Confidence](https://climateconfident.scot), a voluntary sector publication [Third Force News](https://tfn.scot) and a voluntary sector jobs and recruitment service [Goodmoves](https://goodmoves.org). For more information on SCVO membership, visit [SCVO membership](https://scvo.scot/membership)