About the Voluntary and Community Sector

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STATE OF THE SECTOR IV

Cover of State of the Sector IVTo find out more about the not for profit sector in Northern Ireland, see the State of Sector IV research almanac published by NICVA

The voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland comprises a diverse assortment of organisations including national charities - household names such as Oxfam, NSPCC and Barnardo's - and small groups which have come together because of a common cause, or to form a support group.

There are a number of features which are common to all voluntary and community organisations. Essentially, they do not generate profits, are independent of government, gain from a meaningful degree of voluntarism and exist for public benefit.

FACTS AND FIGURES

  1. 4,500 - voluntary and community groups in NI.
  2. £614 million - total income for 2003-04.
  3. 50% of all income is generated by only 5% of the sector.
  4. 35% of the sector's funding comes from government.
  5. £12.72 - donated to charity per person per month in NI.
  6. 29,000 - the number of paid employees in the sector.
  7. 4.4% - the proportion of NI's workforce employed in the sector.
  8. 75,000 - volunteers engaged in formal volunteering.

MORE INFORMATION