TFN

This month’s TFN magazine – available here: https://tfn.scot/magazine/april-2026/read – is the last edition of TFN magazine before Scotland goes to the polls on 7 May for the election.

So we have presented the six main parties (based on polling) with SCVO’s election manifesto and asked them to use it to frame their pitches to the sector –
Alexander Stewart of The Scottish Conservative Party
Gillian Mackay of Scottish Green Party
Claire Baker of Scottish Labour Party
Alex Cole-Hamilton of Scottish Liberal Democrats
Graham Simpson of Reform UK
Shirley-Anne Somerville of Scottish National Party (SNP)
give us their thoughts.

We also hear from Christian Aid Scotland, SCIAF and Quakers in Scotland as faith groups unite in a call for global justice ahead of the Scottish elections; Andy Paterson of Social Enterprise Scotland writes about changing the economic model in Scotland and Ollu, a parent supported by Save the Children Scotland shares the reality behind child poverty.

Continuing the Scottish election theme, Ewan Aitken of Cyrenians and Sara Redmond of The ALLIANCE talk passionately about their asks from the next Scottish Government.

Elsewhere, we hear about the devastating impact of last year’s Nation Insurance hike, with input from Charity Finance Group, VCSE Observatory, NCVO Directory of Social Change and others.

To mark – but relevant all year round – Katie Carmichael takes a deep dive into the power of design to tell stories and amplify messages in the voluntary sector and beyond.

We also hear about a remarkable Home-Start volunteer and the story of how kids at one of the UK’s smallest primary schools are now the proud owners, and makers, of two majestic scrap metal sculptures…

It's a packed mag this month and it's available to read and share here: https://tfn.scot/magazine/april-2026/read

October's TFN magazine is out now - you can read it all here: https://tfn.scot/magazine/october-2025/read.

This month’s magazine has a special focus on one of the most urgent issues of our time: the rise of the far-right.

And specifically: how to stop it.

TFN isn’t pulling any punches here – and neither are the range of people in the sector we have spoken to.

One of the main things to emerge is that we have to create and/or be part of a movement that speaks to the most bewildered and lost in our communities, overcoming division and lies with transformative answers and truth.

Linked to this is the absolute urgency of creating and showing meaningful solidarity with those who are the primary victims of this far-right surge – those in our communities who have been subjected to violence, smears and intimidation, whether that’s by fascist-led mobs, online trolls, parts of the media or state actions.

The other main piece this month is a look at how humanitarian aid workers have tried to operate in Gaza in the two years of hell that followed October 7.

Things may have moved on since the welcome announcement of a ceasefire (just as we were compiling this edition), but the suffering is endless for the bereaved, traumatised and maimed in this land of rubble.

You will find all of that and much more in this month as well as TFN's usual line up of excellent columnists and features.

TFN magazine's July edition is out now – read it all here: https://tfn.scot/magazine/july-2025/read

The lastest magazine looks at Scotland Demands Better, a minimum income guarantee, the Scottish Charity Awards winners and much more

The power of our sector is that we are able not just to highlight problems in society – but also that we have the expertise to formulate solutions.

We look at both of these aspects in this month’s TFN.
First, we highlight the Scotland Demand Better campaign, which both TFN and SCVO are getting fully behind. You can read about this important cross sector and civil society push to bring a focus on the basics of how we live in our society to demand better lives – starting with real action on the scourges of low pay and poverty.

On the latter, another cross-sector collaboration has seen important work done on establishing a minimum income guarantee in Scotland – a level below which wages are not allowed to fall, and a means of lifting people out of poverty.

The findings are wide-ranging, but importantly they are not wishes or even demands: they are detailed and costed proposals which are now going to the Scottish Government.

And while we are looking at things cross-sector, a big shout out to all of this year’s Scottish Charity awards winners and nominees. The list of winners is a truly inspiring snapshot of the breadth of what we do.

You will find all of that and much more in this month as well as TFN's usual line up of excellent columnists and features.