The role of the voluntary sector

Working for a charity exists to improve understanding of the voluntary sector and to encourage new people to contribute their skills as effectively as possible.

We hope that the information which follows will help those people who wish to get involved as volunteers or paid workers to find the best way in.

Its an exciting and demanding environment and the individuals who work within it, whether paid and unpaid, know that they can have a real impact on the world and the lives of the people their organisations exist to help.

As well as voluntary sector, you will also hear the terms not-for-profit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and charity sector. Sometimes these terms refer to the same group of organisations and initiatives and sometimes they don't.

The broadest definition of this sector includes not only charities registered with the Charity Commission but also small voluntary groups, housing associations, universities and colleges, schools and places of worship, trade unions and trade associations, sport and recreation clubs and NHS Trusts.

General charities are defined by four key criteria which are that they:

• are independent of government and business.
  
• are non profit-distributing.
  
• provide a wider public benefit that goes beyond any membership.
  
• are non-sacramental religious bodies or places of worship.
  
  *(Source: The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac, NCVO.)