Meeting of the Parliament 16 June 2026 [Draft]
I absolutely agree with that—no matter where the funding is coming from, whether it is local authorities or the National Lottery Community Fund, we need to look towards the sustainability of our third sector so that it can plan ahead.
We need to ensure that the Scottish Government is providing funding that is more easily accessed for both revenue and capital projects, with less restrictive criteria and longer spending periods. Scotland-wide, organisations need appropriate spaces to deliver their services, as, increasingly, public spaces are unavailable, unsuitable or restrictive and not fit for purpose. Rejuvenation and renovation building projects to house third sector initiatives should also be supported, because it is known that a pound that is in the hands of the third sector can go much further than if it is used by the local authority or the Government. Let us make the most of that and trust those organisations to deliver—of course with appropriate safeguards and monitoring in place.
Currently, far too many obstacles are put in the way of the third sector, especially smaller charities that are run by volunteers, such as my youth club organisation. As has already been mentioned, there are overly onerous funding applications and processes, and community asset transfers are being stalled or rejected by local authorities, which totally goes against the spirit of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Let us sweep those obstacles away.
Rightly or wrongly, in a quirk of human psychology, something that is given is often not as valued as something that has been worked for; it tends to be taken for granted. When communities, organisations and volunteers come together to provide facilities and services, they are more highly valued and respected by those using them, because they take ownership and have a sense of purpose and pride in them. Let us help to make that happen for our third sector organisations by working with them in partnership because, if they build it, people will come.