On behalf of EVOC, and in particular reflecting the voices and experiences of the New Scots Integration Network, we welcome and strongly support the recent Edinburgh Council Motion condemning disorder and threatening behaviour on our streets. 

We unequivocally condemn the violence and intimidation witnessed across the city over the past week. These actions are fundamentally at odds with the inclusive, welcoming and diverse Edinburgh that individuals, communities and organisations work every day to build and sustain. 

The New Scots Integration Network brings together organisations and community groups working closely with refugees, people seeking asylum and migrant communities across the city. Our partners have seen first-hand the distress and fear caused when global events are used to justify division, hostility or exclusion at a local level. 

Partners have shared accounts of service users experiencing harassment, theft and intimidation. In one community garden, women and children were reportedly subjected to harassment by groups describing themselves as carrying out ‘garden surveillance’, with people of colour specifically targeted. Another saw a service user attacked and robbed at a bus stop. Such incidents are deeply concerning and wholly unacceptable in a city that aspires to be welcoming and safe for all. 

Alongside the impact on individuals and communities, the current climate is placing increasing pressure on those organisations delivering essential services. Members of the Integration Network have reported staff feeling intimidated, additional security measures being required for public events, and growing concern about the impact on wellbeing and mental health. These pressures make it more difficult for organisations to provide the support that communities need. 

We welcome the motion’s recognition that Edinburgh’s diverse communities make a vital and positive contribution to the city’s cultural, social and economic life. Last week’s events as part of Refugee Festival Scotland provided a powerful reminder that integration, as a two-way process, strengthens communities and enriches civic life for everyone. 

Organisations involved in New Scots integration, refugee support, anti-racism work or wider community cohesion are warmly invited to join the New Scots Integration Network. The Network provides a space to share information, strengthen partnerships, coordinate responses to emerging issues, and work collectively. EVOC is committed to working with the third sector and communities to ensure Edinburgh is a welcoming and inclusive city for all. 

Registering for the Edinburgh New Scots Integration Network – Fill in form 

As a Network, we remain committed to working in partnership with the Council, communities and wider stakeholders to strengthen cohesion, challenge misinformation, and ensure that Edinburgh remains a city where everyone, regardless of background, feels safe, valued and able to belong. 

If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime, we encourage you to contact Police Scotland.  

• In an emergency, call 999.  

• For non-emergencies, call 101, report in person at any police station, or complete Police Scotland’s online Hate Crime Reporting Form.  

• You can also report through a Third Party Reporting Centre.  

• If you wish to report anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this statement, support is available through organisations including: 

• SCORE Scotland: www.scorescotland.org.uk 

• ELREC: www.elrec.org.uk 

• Passion4Fusion: www.passion4fusion.com 

• Project Esperanza: www.projectesperanza.org.uk 

Edinburgh’s Third Sector Reference group is looking for new members to shape decisions, amplify community voices and create positive change.

The Third Sector Reference Group is a place for sharing ideas and insights from our sector to help city leaders make better policy and investment decisions. The group aims to harness the power, knowledge and impact of our sector and to take that directly to the heart of decision-making to help influence policy, strategy and service design that affects communities across the city.

TSRG Terms of Reference 2026 (pdf) 

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EVOC held their 156th AGM at Meadowbank Stadium on Thu 29 Jan 2026.

It provided a good opportunity to meet peers from across the third sector in Edinburgh.  The members heard of the progress that the organisation has made over the last 18 months and a view to future priorities and plans.  The audited accounts for 2024-25 were presented and reflected the challenging time in 2024.

Board Changes

Su Millar stepped down from EVOC’s board and joined Gary Dewar, John Hinton, Glen Liddall who left the board since the last AGM.

George Bellamy was appointed to the board, bringing his experience from member organisation Change Mental Health.

The appointment of five new trustees during 2025 was also approved. They are: Caroline Rodgers, Craig Shepherd, Diego Quiroz, Isabel Garden and Roderick Wylie.

A new management structure has been put in place with Roderick Wylie as the new convenor.

Daniel Fisher continues as vice convenor and Edinburgh TSI representative, Ran Majumder is taking on external relations, and Isabel Garden is leading on people and culture for the board.

You can find the slides for the AGM here.

As part of the Third Sector Reference Group’s ongoing work to redefine the relationship between the Third Sector and the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB), the Change Management Group* (a partnership of Third Sector and EHSCP)  number of events designed to support the development of a new approach to EIJB Commissioning were delivered.

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EVOC has supported the submission of two responses to the EIJB Draft Strategy Consultation.

The first is a collective response that presents views from a range of voluntary sector organisations that engage in health and social care across Edinburgh. These perspectives were gathered through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. The priorities, concerns, and recommendations were collated, summarised and submitted on behalf of the third sector by EVOC.

Read the response

The second is on behalf of Edinburgh’s TSI and the Third Sector Reference Group. It recognises the challenges of rising demand and financial pressures on the health and social care system in Edinburgh and highlights the need to focus on three priorities:

• Creating and sustaining healthy communities as the common purpose for the Plan
• Maximise strategic partner collaboration in shaping a City Prevention Programme
• Maximise community and local participation in health and social care.

Read the response

In response to the EIJB consultation inviting people and organisations to have a say on the draft Strategic Plan for 2025 – 28, the Third Sector Reference Group is working on a contribution on behalf of our sector. This is another in a series of actions in light of the future funding crisis third sector organisations are facing across the city.

Download the draft Strategic Plan

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EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Crawford.

Following a comprehensive recruitment process, led by EVOC’s Board and involving representatives from the Third Sector and Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface partners (Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network and Volunteer Edinburgh), Bruce will take up the CEO position on Monday 9 December 2024.

Bruce brings a breadth of strategic leadership experience to the role, as a CEO, Trustee and Volunteer. As Director of Grange Associates, he has supported charities and social enterprises to develop and succeed, offering advice in a range of areas including governance, strategy, policy, change management, diversity, risk management, business planning and sustainability. As Chief Executive for Scottish Curling, Bruce led successful negotiations that secured £2m funding for covid recovery from the Scottish Government and played a key role in developing strategies and campaigns to ensure that the Olympic profile and success were capitalised to maximum effect. He is also a member of the Sustainability Committee for World Curling and is the chair of the James Gillespie’s Trust.

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