John Downie: Voluntary sector has vital insights about the future of Scotland

The charities, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and community groups that make up the sector want to talk about the kind of Scotland they want to see.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) will shortly survey its members on how they can take the debate to their members, staff and service users.

The third sector will have all kinds of views about what constitutional option meets their needs and mission. The hundreds of thousands involved with our sector will come to their own decision and act accordingly on referendum day.

Many are coming to the see the referendum as an opportunity to explore how we might do things differently. Last month Oxfam launched its Humankind Index, an innovative way of tracking our progress as a country and society. It measures what matters to people – decent housing, good health and job security.

In our response to the Scottish Government consultation, SCVO has urged that all options be kept on the table. It’s too soon to rush to a Yes/No answer when so many people are just beginning to get involved in the debate.

With two and a half years until voting day, we need as much time as possible to explore all options and, most important of all, hear from the people of Scotland.

How can we get people into jobs? How can we support those most in need? These questions matter more to people than the arid debate about timing and wording of a referendum question. So let’s stand down the Yes/No campaigns until people have a better idea about what it all might mean.

The third sector has a lot to say about how to make Scotland a better place. It also has the potential to rejuvenate interest in politics and bring a different variety of perspectives to bear on our referendum.

• John Downie is director of public affairs at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.