Balancing values with value: rethinking decision making in the third sector
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 5th March 2026
The ALLIANCE hosted a workshop at the SCVO Gathering to explore how we can better navigate difficult decisions.
On Wednesday 11 February, the ALLIANCE Integration Team hosted a workshop at the SCVO Gathering to explore how third sector organisations can navigate difficult decisions while staying aligned with their core values.
The session opened with a discussion of how organisations define and balance value – impact, resources, efficiency – with values – ethics, mission, authenticity. We heard from a number of speakers about how they approach values-based decision making in their work, including:
- Vicki Cloney, Parntership Facilitator, CVS Inverclyde
- Eddie McConnell, Interim Executive Director, SCLD
- Sean Macaskill, Director, Autistic Knowledge Development
Across all discussions, several consistent themes emerged:
- Values should be a framework for decision making
- Authenticity and trust are essential, but can only be achieved through honesty and accountability
- Financial pressures can lead to mission drift
- Community voice is central
- Long term thinking beats short term fixes
Read more in our summary report.
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