The Voluntary and Community Sector
The term Voluntary and Community Sector relates to organisations that are not part of local authorities or any other government agency. Neither are they part of the traditional business sector. The sector is in fact TWO sectors- the Voluntary Sector describes organisations that are registered as charities or businesses to provide a service to others. The Community Sector is largely made up of small groups that campaign and advocate on behalf of citizens and residents- their “communities”. These tend, as a whole, not to be registered as companies, but may be registered as small charities or trusts. It is important that we distinguish between volunteering as an activity undertaken by individuals and voluntary organisations. The thing that both these sectors have in common is that they are not-for-profit, or where profit is made it is ploughed back into the service or community.
Traditionally, we define all activity into one of three sectors- Business, Public and Voluntary and Community Sector. Today the voluntary and community sector is commonly referred to as the Third Sector, a term which also embraces social enterprises and other activities that that fall outside of the other two sectors, though both terms are widely used and accepted.
The sector provides services to communities and individuals who are unable to access mainstream services. Many of these services are provided through the use of volunteers, small grants and active campaigning. This makes the sector incredibly diverse, it also means that the sector is often innovative in the way it provides services, and closer to the people who need them. This gives a unique perspective on the quality of life as experienced by the very communities in which they work.
This places the sector in ideal position to influence and directly campaign on behalf of the people they serve. Due to the diversity and size of the sector, a mechanism needs to exist to effectively capture this expertise, knowledge and experience and directly bring about change.