Charities have responded to Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation after she announced yesterday her decision to step down as Scotland’s first minister.
Sturgeon, who took office in November 2014, said that now is the right time “to make way for someone else” and that Scotland needs a new leader to “reach across the divide in Scottish politics”.
“I have been first minister for over eight years, and I was deputy first minister for the best part of eight years before that. These jobs are a privilege but they are also – rightly – hard. And, it is only possible to give absolutely everything to a job of this nature for so long,” she said.
“Given the nature and scale of the challenges the country faces, I feel that duty, first and foremost, to our country – to ensure that it does have the energy of leadership it needs, not just today, but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term.”
As first minister, Sturgeon has been involved in various charities throughout her tenure. At an SCVO gathering 2019, she praised the “invaluable” expertise and work of charities and outlined the Scottish government’s commitment to support the sector.
In her recent annual Christmas message, she encouraged members of the public to donate to charities or help out in their communities in light of the cost-of-living crisis.
Many charities have praised Sturgeon’s work and thanked her for her “unwavering” commitment to the sector.
‘We’re sorry to see her step down’
Frances Guy, chief executive officer of Scotland’s International Development Alliance, told Civil Society News: “Nicola Sturgeon was a leader in calling out global injustices and we’re sorry to see her step down as first minister.
“As one of the first nations to sign up to the Sustainable Development Goals (then Global Goals), Sturgeon led the way in supporting a crucial framework to create a fairer world for all. Sturgeon showed leadership in creating a loss and damage fund which acknowledges the role that nations like Scotland have played in creating the climate crisis.
“We thank Sturgeon for her support of the global sustainable development sector in Scotland, and look forward to working with the next first minister to tackle the many ongoing injustices faced by the global community.”
Scottish Refugee Council noted that there are “lots of different views” about Sturgeon’s resignation, but added that as “first minister she was consistently positive and committed to supporting people seeking refugee protection in Scotland”.
Christians Against Poverty Scotland tweeted: “Nicola Sturgeon has been the longest serving first minister in Scotland. Under her leadership, [the Scottish government] has taken groundbreaking steps to tackling poverty in Scotland, including the Scottish child payment.
“As a new first minister is selected, we’re calling on the Scottish government to keep a commitment to tackling poverty at the heart of decision making and to keep pursuing Scotland’s ambitious child poverty targets.”
‘Tireless commitment’
Who Cares? Scotland, who won the Overall Award at the Charity Awards 2018, thanked Sturgeon for her “tireless commitment to our cause”.
Chair Ryan McCuaig said: “Throughout her tenure, Nicola Sturgeon has been alongside care experienced people with open arms. She’s listened to us, amplified our voices and made us feel valued and supported. She’s also committed to delivering transformational change to ensure we all grow up feeling nurtured and loved.
“From listening to more than 1,000 voices of care experienced people and delivering the Independent Care Review, to walking the Kiltwalk with our members, and joining us at countless events, she’s been a true ally to the care experienced community.”
In a statement, Stonewall thanked Sturgeon for “her unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of all marginalised people in Scotland, including women, those with disabilities and LGBTQ+ communities”.
“As deputy first minister, she helped steer through Scotland’s equal marriage legislation. In 2018, as first minister, she became the first serving first minister in Scotland to lead a Pride March. The same year saw legislation proposed by her government to pardon gay and bi men convicted of having consensual sex with other men before it was decriminalised, which passed unanimously in the Scottish parliament. In 2021, Scotland became the first country in the world to embed lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans inclusive education across the school curriculum.”
Sturgeon’s government recently came under fire after passing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill – which was later blocked by Westminster – a law that sought to simplify the system by which transgender people change their gender and lower the age of application from 18 to 16.
Stonewall, which supports the bill, said that Sturgeon “approached this subject in the way we hope all leaders would: with compassion and understanding, and with judgements that are grounded in facts and evidence”.
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