A Call for Fair Treatment of the Third Sector: It’s Time for Change

As one of the many third-sector organisations delivering essential services here in the north of Scotland, Anna's recent article hit home. Her words speak to the ongoing struggle that so many of us in the sector face. Year after year, we experience cut after cut, constantly fighting for the fair treatment of our staff, who work tirelessly to support our communities and those in need. Yet, despite our efforts, we find ourselves unable to compete with our public sector partners due to the inequitable allocation of resources.

Anna raises an important point: this inequity not only limits what we can offer our employees in terms of pay and benefits, but it also had led to a retention and recruitment crisis. The direct result of this is that people and families, many of whom are in desperate need of support, are left without the services they rely on.

It is not a matter of resentment towards our public sector counterparts. I wholeheartedly support their need for proper pay and rewards for the difficult jobs they do. However, as Anna so rightly states, third-sector organisations are too often left with the scraps, despite being at the very heart of our communities. We are the lifeline for many vulnerable individuals, and yet, our efforts are continually hampered by a lack of investment and recognition.

The image Anna paints of rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship resonates deeply. We don’t need cosmetic fixes. We need a completely new approach – a new ship altogether. The one the government is steering is heading straight for an iceberg, and unless action is taken, the consequences will be disastrous for the millions who depend on third-sector services.

We are at a crisis and breaking point. For too long, the third sector has been underfunded, underappreciated, and left to do the work that others cannot or will not do. It’s time for the government to think differently and act decisively. The future of our sector - and the future of the communities we serve - depends on it.

Billy Alexander

CEO - A-ND

You can read Anna’s full article here: SCVO - Programme for Government: Voluntary Sector Deserves to be Treated Fairly - https://scvo.scot/p/93667/2024/09/05/programme-for-government-voluntary-sector-deserves-to-be-treated-fairly