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Chamber and committees

Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector

  • Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2026
  • Motion type: Motion For Debate
  • Motion reference: S7M-00356
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Motions as amended

That the Parliament commends the essential role that the third sector plays in supporting people and communities; recognises the contribution that the third sector provides to the delivery of many Scottish Government key priorities, including eradicating child poverty; acknowledges that the Scottish Government understands it has a shared responsibility alongside other funders and those who contract out to the third sector to take action to ensure that the sector is sustainable; agrees that a Third Sector Partnership Agreement provides the opportunity to formalise the relationship between the Scottish Government and the third sector, building upon the Scottish Government's progress in delivering on its Fairer Funding commitments to date and responding to the views of the sector; agrees that the Third Sector Partnership will be co-designed with third sector stakeholders to embed their knowledge and experience, demonstrating the value that the Scottish Government places on the sector; believes that the third sector would benefit from a transition to multi-year, simplified, flexible funding models that considers inflationary increases and covers full operating costs as the default; calls on the UK Government to reimburse Scottish third sector organisations for the cost of increased employer NICs, which are currently estimated at £75 million per year; recognises that those working in the third sector, such as organisations addressing violence against women and girls or supporting migrants, carers and disabled people, are also experiencing multiple and overlapping inequalities, secondary trauma and harm, and that they would benefit from an approach to third sector funding that includes the Real Living Wage and fair work principles; further recognises that some third sector organisations, particularly those working with marginalised communities such as trans people and migrants, are experiencing threats to the safety of their staff, volunteers and service users; understands that the third sector employs over 130,000 paid staff in Scotland, providing employment opportunities for those who find it harder to gain work, including disabled people, and often offering flexible working conditions, which has resulted in women making up 64% of the workforce; notes that Scotland's charitable and voluntary sector contributes significantly to the delivery of government policy objectives, yet relies heavily on public donations and fundraising; believes that the sustainability of many charities depends on multi-year funding and appropriate government support; considers that any diversification of funding should assist smaller charities that can find it difficult to participate in public funding rounds, and believes that any charity in receipt of public funding must retain the absolute licence to criticise, as well as to shape, public policy and the actions of government.


Supported by: Simita Kumar


Vote

Result 78 for, 26 against, 16 abstained, 9 did not vote Agreed

Scottish National Party

Reform UK

Scottish Labour

Scottish Green Party

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Scottish Liberal Democrats

No Party Affiliation

For

0

Against

0

Abstained

0

Did not vote


Original motion text

That the Parliament commends the essential role that the third sector plays in supporting people and communities; recognises the contribution that the third sector provides to the delivery of many Scottish Government key priorities, including eradicating child poverty; acknowledges that the Scottish Government understands it has a shared responsibility alongside other funders and those who contract out to the third sector to take action to ensure that the sector is sustainable; agrees that a Third Sector Partnership Agreement provides the opportunity to formalise the relationship between the Scottish Government and the third sector, building upon the Scottish Government’s progress in delivering on its Fairer Funding commitments to date and responding to the views of the sector, and agrees that the Third Sector Partnership will be co-designed with third sector stakeholders to embed their knowledge and experience, demonstrating the value that the Scottish Government places on the sector.  


Amendments

Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector: Amendment 1

Submitted by: Carol Mochan, South Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: Monday, June 15, 2026

Motion reference: S7M-00356.1

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Result 111 for, 8 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote Agreed


Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector: Amendment 2

Submitted by: Julie MacDougall, Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK

Date lodged: Monday, June 15, 2026

Motion reference: S7M-00356.2

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Result 26 for, 77 against, 17 abstained, 9 did not vote Disagreed


Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector: Amendment 3

Submitted by: Morven-May MacCallum, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: Monday, June 15, 2026

Motion reference: S7M-00356.3

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, June 16, 2026


Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector: Amendment 4

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: Monday, June 15, 2026

Motion reference: S7M-00356.4

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Supported by: Stephen Kerr

Result 23 for, 96 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote Disagreed


Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector: Amendment 5

Submitted by: Holly Bruce, Glasgow Southside, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: Monday, June 15, 2026

Motion reference: S7M-00356.5

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Result 77 for, 25 against, 17 abstained, 10 did not vote Agreed