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What we do
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) believes passionately in the voluntary and community sector. This is a sector with the power to transform the lives of people and communities for the better.
Read NCVO's vision, aims and history and how you can support our work.
NCVO has several specialist teams who provide information, advice and support to others working in or with the voluntary sector. These teams produce publications, briefing papers and guidance notes; run conferences and seminars; and offer a range of practitioner forums.
Advice and support for organisations
NCVO aims to ensure that every organisation has access to high quality advice, information and support.
NCVO's HelpDesk is a free telephone, email or textphone service for anyone involved in the voluntary sector, whether as a volunteer, paid worker or trustee. Contact the HelpDesk.
If you work or volunteer for a small organisation or group we also have specific and relevant information for you, on a range of key areas.
Membership
NCVO has over 6,000 members. With over 280,000 individuals and over 13 million volunteers working for our members, we represent and support almost half the voluntary sector workforce. Our goal is to support members by creating an environment in which voluntary organisations can flourish and develop. Join NCVO today.
Campaigning
NCVO campaigns to influence and change policy and practice across key issues of concern for the whole sector. Our latest campaign was the Olympic Lottery Campaign. Read about NCVO campaigns.
The Campaigning Effectiveness Programme aims to support civil society organisations to improve their own influencing, lobbying and campaigning by carrying out research, providing advice and training, delivering events and networking opportunities and by acting as an advocate for the campaigning function of the voluntary sector. Find out more about Campaigning Effectiveness.
Governance and leadership
NCVO's Governance and Leadership supports civil society organisations and thier leaders with a range of services including:
- Leadership Services: Provides the sector’s leaders with opportunities to network and share ideas, as well as access to a range of training and other services that support the increasingly complex nature of leadership roles.
- Trustee Bank: a trustee recruitment resource for voluntary organisations to help you find, or fill, trustee vacancies.
- Leadership and Governance National Support Service: a three year programme to strengthen the ability of support providers to provide development support in leadership and governance to frontline organisations
- Publications and resources, including those developed through the work of the Governance Hub.
Sign up for the leadership services or learn more about governance and leadership.
Parliamentary
NCVO's Parliamentary Office:
- Develops NCVO’s work in Westminster and Whitehall.
- Develops effective working relationships with members of both Houses of Parliament and other national policy makers.
- Maintains overview of all parliamentary developments, evaluates legislations affecting the voluntary and community sector.
- Campaigns and lobbies for legislative and policy and practice changes.
Find out more about the parliamentary office work.
Policy
The policy team develops NCVO’s position on current policy issues. Seeking to improve the operating environment of the voluntary and community sector, the team works with members and responds to policy initiatives from external bodies. The policy team also provides briefing and advice to members by hosting regular events and a range of networks for people with specific policy interests. Find out more about NCVO policy work and read the latest public policy update.
Research
NCVO's research aims to support the development of effective policy and practice in the voluntary and community sector. We work closely with practitioners, academics and decision-makers in order to focus on generic issues of strategic importance. Find out more about NCVO Research work.
Sustainable Funding
Funding and finance remain the single biggest concern facing voluntary and community organisations. NCVO’s Sustainable Funding Project encourages and enables organisations to explore and exploit a full range of funding and financing options to develop a sustainable funding mix.
- Get started with the sustainable funding project resources.
- Acquire a diverse range of income streams through our information, tools, resources and events.
- Learn about sustainable funding.
Third Sector Foresight
Third Sector Foresight helps voluntary organisations plan effectively for the future, with a particular emphasis on providing information about trends affecting the voluntary and community sector.
Find out about strategic drivers and the strategic risks and opportunities that they present for voluntary and community organisations, our work around strategic thinking and planning and details on our events and network. Find more about NCVO Third Sector Foresight and 90 drivers shaping the future of the VCS.
Collaborative Working
Collaborative working within the voluntary and community sector - also known as joint or partnership working - covers a spectrum of ways that two or more organisations can work together.
The Collaborative Working Team provides information and advice to help voluntary and community organisations make informed decisions about whether and how to work collaboratively and to maximise the benefits in any partnership agreement.
Compact Advocacy
The scheme provides practical support and wider campaigning to the sector in cases where the Government has breached the Compact. The Compact aims to improve the relationship between the two sectors for mutual advantage.
European and International
NCVO’s European and International Office campaigns at European Union level on behalf of the English Voluntary and Community Sector.
- It runs the Eurogroup, a network of voluntary sector officers interested in EU issues.
- The office is also responsible for building ongoing links between NCVO and civil society organisations across the globe.
NCVO's international work and campaigns at European Union level.
Discounted services
In order to save money for NCVO members, NCVO's Business Development Team uses the bulk purchasing power of its 5,900 members to negotiate discounts and preferential packages on a wide range of products and services such as training, computer software, hardware, insurance and office services. Take advantage of our discounted services.
Insurance for the Voluntary Sector
CaSE Insurance is a social enterprise that has been established to provide tailored insurance packages exclusively for charities and social enterprises.
NCVO, along with CAF, are partners in CaSE Insurance and the aim of CaSE Insurance is to reduce premiums and support the sector. Read what their customers have to say and get a tailored insurance package with CaSE insurance.
Networks
NCVO runs a range of networking groups, covering specialist areas of work such as ICT, HR, PR and policy. These groups provide an opportunity to keep up to date with the latest developments, share learning and experiences and to network with other professionals from the sector.
Information and advice
