Community of support and advocate for change: celebrating CCPS on its anniversary

This year CCPS celebrates its 25^th anniversary as a registered charity. To mark the milestone, members of our Board have given us their perspectives on our contribution since 1999 – and why the organisation matters.

C-Change CEO Sam Smith reflected on our unique role and what she’s gained from being a Board member, commenting:

“CCPS is a membership organisation that helps not for profit social care providers do their best to support our citizens and communities to thrive. It provides a community of support and learning that ensures civil society organisations can evolve and develop to meet the changing needs of Scotland’s population.

“Through CCPS my colleagues have a network of similarly committed professionals to learn and grow with. And for me as a leader, it is a place where I am supported and challenged to do and be better.”

Richmond Fellowship Scotland Chief Executive Austen Smyth, the longest serving member of our Board, said:

“I have been an active CCPS board member for over 18 years. During that time I’ve seen CCPS grow, develop and extend its reach and influence.

“The organisation plays a pivotal role in amplifying the issues and voices of the third sector social care and support sector. It advocates for providers as an important agent for change.”

Viv Dickenson, CEO of CrossReach, told us about the value of CCPS as a collective voice:

“The voluntary sector plays a critical role in delivering social care to thousands of people across Scotland. Providers can see ways to improve the system we operate within, both for supported people and for the workforce, but individually our voices are often not heard.

“Being a CCPS member gives us the opportunity to get together, explore the big issues in social care, and collectively advocate for positive change. It has been a force for good for 25 years, and Scotland would be the poorer without it.”

VSA’s Chief Executive Sue Freeth highlighted our role in influencing and collaborating with government, stating:

“VSA is proud to be a member of CCPS. Scotland’s third sector needs a strong voice to improve the lives of people VSA and other members exist to support.

“CCPS enables us to escalate concerns, become a better networked sector, to share new approaches and provides the platform to collaborate with government on practice based policy.

Finally, Doug Moyes, Director of Customer Service at Blackwood, highlighted CCPS’s pivotal role during the pandemic:

“CCPS has been a consistent voice and support for Scotland’s care sector over the last 25 years. While care providers face incredible challenges year on year there has never been such a significant contribution than CCPS support and guidance during the Covid pandemic.

“CCPS united providers across the country, supporting us to navigate new legislation and infection control measures and raised our collective issues and concerns on behalf of our customers and staff with government.”

Thanks to all Board members who contributed their views.