Risk management in Scottish charities: hidden practices and improvement needs in public service partnerships

Abstract

This study reviews the evolving role and state of risk management in Scottish charities between 2009 and 2018, with a specific focus on charities engaging in public service partnerships. It draws on data from questionnaires, interviews and charity documents. It identifies how risk management activities are organised in the Scottish charity sector in general. It also identifies how charities deal with risk in partnerships. The findings suggest that most risk management activities are implicit and sporadic, with some Scottish charities engaging in more formal practices, although none of the risk management activities extend to partnership working and reporting on risk management practices is also limited.