CEMVO Scotland has developed a network of over 600 minority ethnic voluntary organisations and plays an active role in strengthening them through an array of activities and programmes including:

• Capacity Building
• Volunteer Development
• Endowment Building
• Community Assets
• Social Policy and Research

Successfully Completed Projects to date

Foreign Policy Consultation: CEMVO Scotland, in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), ran a consultation seminar entitled “Linking local thinking global – why foreign policy matters to us all” to guide the development of more strategic foreign policies that link with domestic issues. 

Tax Credit Surgeries: CEMVO Scotland, in partnership with HM Revenue and Customs, took part in CEMVO's National Tax Credits Dissemination Campaign. Aimed at increasing the understanding of minority ethnic and disadvantaged groups regarding their Tax Credits entitlements (both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit), the UK-wide programme featured a publicity campaign as well as outreach work, including a series of workshops, drop-in surgeries and roadshows.

Employment Seminars: CEMVO Scotland, in partnership with ACAS Scotland, ran a number of seminars in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to help ethnic minority voluntary organisations better understand general employment issues, in particular, Equal Opportunities policies and practices.

Social Enterprise Seminar: CEMVO Scotland, in collaboration with the Chinese Community Development Partnership and the Chinese in Britain Forum, ran a social enterprise seminar for Chinese voluntary sector organisations and community groups.  Hosted by Strathclyde Police and sponsored by Communities Scotland and EMPOWER Scotland, the seminar provided ample opportunity to discuss relevant aspects of community regeneration and social enterprise.

Capacity Skills Training: CEMVO Scotland, in partnership with Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance (GARA), delivered a series of Capacity Skills Training courses in 2004 and 2005 to staff, volunteers and Management Committee members of ethnic minority voluntary organisations and community groups in Scotland to help increase skills related to working in the voluntary sector.  Course topics include Good Governance, Fundraising, Business Planning, Financial Management, Marketing, Effective Communication and Team Building etc.

Capacity Building Programme: From July 2004 to June 2006, CEMVO Scotland supported over 60 ethnic minority voluntary organisations and community groups through the CEMVO National Capacity Building Programme. Three MBA qualified Capacity Building Officers were assigned to support these organisations to develop and improve organisational and management processes, governance, legal structures, business planning, management systems, financial systems, marketing, information technology and funding. A total of £600,000 was raised for Scottish ethnic minority voluntary organisations on the programme.

Working Groups and Consultations: CEMVO Scotland has developed effective networks within the country's statutory, public and voluntary organisations.  In order to do so, we have been involved in numerous consultations, forums, working groups and seminars across the board, including the Working Group on ‘Fair for All – The Wider Challenge' and the Scottish Executive Race Equality Review.