voluntary organisations

This study assesses the need and demand within voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) for relevant, analysed and well-presented data to support their work tackling poverty. The poverty agenda has shifted away from ‘top-down’ action by central government towards the engagement of local voluntary and community organisations. As small, independent groups with their own ideas about tackling poverty, VCOs represent a powerful, ‘bottom-up’ approach.

This report from the Social Justice Policy Group, chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, identifies five 'pathways' to poverty and makes proposals for tackling them. These pathways are: educational failure, family breakdown, economic dependence, indebtedness and addictions. A sixth section considers how the third sector might be better supported to help people escape poverty.

This album tackles the complex relationships social workers experience in the wide spectrum of their work, from those with families affected by social deprivation to those with judges, lawyers and other members of the legal system. The tracks analyse the role of the family in Scottish life in relation to the many voluntary bodies that exist to assist and inform them, and the legal obligations of social workers. Participants from single mothers to solicitors presented their perspectives in a series of frank, informative interviews.

Briefing paper discussing the implications of the personalisation agenda for voluntary service providers, for example how they ensure the individual is the primary focus.

Guide designed to help voluntary organisations delivering social care services self-evaluate and then plan improvements to their governance arrangements where needed.

Code of good practice developed to facilitate a positive relationship between government and the black and minority ethnic voluntary and community sector.

National guidance from the Scottish Government on legislation, policies and practices to prevent and resolve homelessness. It provides practical guidance on how the legislation and related policies should be implemented.

It supports our objective that homeless people receive readily accessible services tailored to their needs.

Video highlighting the sorts of problems children experience when a parent is in custody and what helps them. It points to the uneven nature of service provision and how some voluntary agencies and Children's Trusts are providing help. Parents who have been in prison and parents left at home discuss their experiences.

These regulations set out the requirements by law for the approval of foster carers by local authorities; the placement of foster children; arrangements with voluntary organisations and the retention and confidentiality of case records for foster carers and children.

The appointment, composition and function of fostering panels is also laid out and the Schedules include information required from prospective foster carers and the requirements of placement agreements.

Document that gives background information and highlights key areas for consideration to support third sector organisations to plan, prepare and respond to pandemic influenza.