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SCVO
Funding Scotland
TFN
 




Supporting Scotland's vibrant voluntary sector

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Caledonian Exchange, 19A Canning Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EG.

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Facts & figures

About the sector The voluntary sector in Scotland is made up of thousands of charities, social enterprises,On this page you'll find up-to-date, reliable information and the key statistics about: The size and,shape of the Scottish voluntary sector Sector funding and finance The people who make up the voluntary,sector workforce in Scotland Data about the sector's organisations and people Size and shape In this,the numbers of paid staff in the sector top sector employers staff costs staff pay and Living Wage info

https://scvo.scot/research/facts-figures

SCVO Research

Third sector tracker All the latest results from our quarterly Tracker survey of hundreds of Scottish,Read more Facts & figures about the sector All the key stats on the size and shape of the Scottish voluntary,sector, from numbers of organisations to workforce data.,Research reports Latest research news Latest posts about our research work.,I'm the key contact for the Sector stats.

https://scvo.scot/research

Useful Facts & Stats

The following facts and stats may be of use or interest when discussing Fair Funding (all stats come,The Scottish Third Sector Tracker report on waves one to six shows that: From August 2021 to April 2023,costs and inflation continues to be the biggest challenge for organisations in the sector.,volunteer shortages; difficulties fundraising; financial and cash flow restraints; and uncertainty about,funding for the sector - the first asked respondents about the main features of good grant management

https://scvo.scot/policy/fair-funding-procurement/fair-funding/useful-facts-stats

Transforming the economy

SCVO believes in an inclusive and sustainable economy that values and benefits the voluntary sector.,Voluntary organisations play an essential role in Scotland’s economy, working in partnership across sectors,We also believe that a successful and equitable partnership between the voluntary and public sectors,We also share findings and raise the profile of the sector by presenting at various events.,New stats and facts about the sector (see also Research section).

https://scvo.scot/policy/transforming-the-economy

Voluntary sector lagging behind public sector in both pay and pay equality 

sector, but it is lagging well behind public sector pay.,From the ASHE data it appears that voluntary sector pay is just about keeping up with inflation, but,(SCVO Sector Stats).,survey and we felt it was the right time to ask people about a range of things such as wellbeing, workload,We also want to hear about pay and conditions.

https://scvo.scot/p/99818/2025/07/31/voluntary-sector-lagging-behind-public-sector-in-both-pay-and-pay-equality

Public Sector Funding

Public Sector FundingDownload PDF Public sector funding of the voluntary sector The following pages pull,together what we know about public sector funding from the latest SCVO Sector Stats, based on analysis,There has been a slight fall in the value and relative importance of public sector funding to the sector,Public sector funding made up 40% of the sector’s income in 2023.,83 credit unions Over 6,000 of these voluntary organisations are also social enterprises Learn more about

https://scvo.scot/research/reports/public-sector-funding

SCVO’s 2026 Scottish Parliament election manifesto

They are Scotland’s Essential Sector.,This manifesto outlines what the sector needs to make that a reality.,about what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.,v=1wU1x_ZWlik&showinfo=0&controls=0 About this manifesto To deliver the best possible outcomes for people,the new and ongoing challenges facing the sector.

https://scvo.scot/about/manifesto-2026

The size and shape of the voluntary sector workforce

Key workforce stats 1 in 3 charities employ paid staff In 2023 the voluntary sector employed over 136,000,Sector growth: The sector’s workforce has shown long-term growth, particularly in health and social care,the public (28%) and private (25%) sectors.,The voluntary sector in numbers – key facts There are over 46,500 voluntary sector organisations in Scotland,83 credit unions Over 6,000 of these voluntary organisations are also social enterprises Learn more about

https://scvo.scot/the-size-and-shape-of-the-voluntary-sector-workforce

Individual Giving in Scotland: donations, legacies and fundraising

About This page pulls together key facts about the individual giving landscape in Scotland and the wider,UK using a range of data sources including the Scottish Third Sector Tracker.,Income from individual giving made up 15% of the Scottish charity sector’s income in 2023, down from,Data from the Spring 2025 Scottish Third Sector Tracker suggests that a rising number of voluntary organisations

https://scvo.scot/research/reports/individual-giving-in-scotland-donations-legacies-and-fundraising

Staff

There are around 138,000 paid staff in the third sector in Scotland.

https://scvo.scot/support/running-your-organisation/staff-volunteers/staff