That the Parliament notes that 5 September 2025 marks the International Day of Charity, established by the United Nations to highlight the importance of charitable actions in supporting vulnerable populations and addressing social issues; recognises what it sees as the significant role of charities, both locally and globally, in providing essential services, advocating for human rights and promoting social justice, with figures showing that Scotland’s voluntary sector comprises over 46,500 organisations, contributes £9.7 billion in annual turnover and manages £37 billion in assets on behalf of communities; acknowledges the contributions of volunteers and donors who support charitable efforts across Scotland, with approximately 830,000 people volunteering annually, despite reports of a concerning decline in formal volunteering participation from 26%, in 2019, to 18%, in 2023, of Scotland’s adult population, representing a loss of over 335,000 volunteers since the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, and reaffirms the commitment to supporting and strengthening the charitable sector to help those in need and advocating for a more compassionate society, particularly through fair funding, sustained investment in volunteering infrastructure and policies addressing the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteer capacity.
Supported by:
Paul Sweeney