Organisations across Scotland have shared their appreciation for the first minister's work in the role

Scotland’s third sector has paid tribute to first minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon after she announced her intention to resign this week after eight years in the role. 

Groups from across the country have posted their thanks to the Glasgow South MSP following the shock announcement on Wednesday morning. 

News of Sturgeon’s intention to step down from her role at the head of the SNP-led government broke before a press conference was held in Edinburgh. 

The first minister said she intends to continue as an MSP until at least 2026, with the process to choose her successor now underway. 

Sturgeon was the first woman to hold the role, and is the longest serving incumbent - having led the SNP to eight election victories in eight years.

Charities who have worked with her during her time in government have shown their appreciation for her leadership - particularly on campaigns close to their own hearts. 

The Carnegie Trust said: "Nicola Sturgeon has been a key member of the global network of leaders making the case for public policy that prioritises wellbeing.

"As a body based in Scotland, she has also been a significant presence in the lives of our team. We thank her for her service and wish her well."

In a statement posted on social media, Interfaith Scotland wrote: “Nicola Sturgeon has been an ardent supporter of good interfaith relations in Scotland and we have immensely valued her support. 

“We wish her well on the next stage of her journey - thank you Nicola for your dedication to the people of Scotland.”

Wellbeing Alliance Scotland wrote on social media: “We want to thank  Nicola Sturgeon for playing a pivotal role in building the movement for a Wellbeing Economy among governments. There is still a way to go to turn ambition into reality in Scotland but we have made some important first steps.

“Three years on from her Ted Talk on Wellbeing Economy our global movement is flourishing with 15 hubs around the world and more than 100 organisations in Scotland coalescing around the policies needed to transform our economy.

“We have welcomed her government's publication of a Wellbeing Economy monitor, efforts to encourage fair work and support for community wealth building and we look forward to building on this with her successor.”

Christians Against Poverty Scotland wrote online: "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 are 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."

Sturgeon was also thanked by those leading charities across the country.  

Associate director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Chris Birt, said: “I was very lucky to work closely with Nicola Sturgeon for a long time.  

“She is massively intelligent, absolutely committed, stands up for her belief in what is right and cares deeply about making a difference for people. 

“Exactly the sort of person we need as first minister.”

Chair of Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Lynn Jamieson, posted on Twitter: “May Nicola Sturgeon's successor have her courage to stand up for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. 

“We thank her for clear understanding - nuclear weapons are an unacceptable threat to the planet and never ‘security’.”

Other parts of civic Scotland paid their own tributes, thanking the first minister for her support. 

STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “Throughout her leadership, the first minister has shown a consistently high level of respect for the role of trade unions in Scotland and has been committed to working with us to establish Scotland as a Fair Work nation.

“Whilst we haven’t always agreed, there can be no doubt that we deeply valued our working relationship, working collaboratively on behalf of Scotland’s workers. This has, in no small part, been indicative of her leadership and personal commitment to respecting the function and position of the STUC and Scotland’s trade union movement. This will, undoubtedly, be a legacy of her time as first minister and we look forward to continuing that collaborative work with the Scottish Government.

“I want to personally thank the first minister for her unparalleled, long-standing public service to Scotland. We wish her all good wishes for the future.”

Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, added: “Nicola Sturgeon is Scotland's longest serving first minister and has dedicated much of her adult life to public service.

“She has borne a tremendous weight of responsibility since she took office in 2014, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and we wish her well for the future.

“The church continues to uphold all elected politicians in our prayers as they seek to do their best for all people who live in Scotland and across the wider UK.”