The UK C vl Soc ety Almanac 2008

83 Pages·2008·1.98 MB·English

National Council for Voluntary Organisations 
The UK
Cvl Socety
Almanac 2008
Oliver Reichardt
David Kane
Belinda Pratten
Karl Wilding
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/almanac
 National Council for Voluntary Organisations National Council for Voluntary Organisations 

CONTeNTS
Published by NCVO The data used to compile this publication
Regent’s Wharf has been provided to us by GuideStar UK, Foreword by Phil Hope, 4. Income 6. Indvdual Gvng
8 All Saints Street the UK’s most comprehensive on-line Minister for the Third Sector v
4.1. Executve summary 21 6.1. Executve summary 50
London N1 9RL encyclopedia of charities at
4.2. Analyss 22 6.2. Analyss 51
www.gudestar.org.uk. Guidestar data is
First published 2000 1. Cvl Socety: An Overvew 4.2.1. Overview 22 6.2.1. Gender and giving 51
subject to copyright and should not be
This edition published February 2008 4.2.2. Regional variations 26 6.2.2. Marital/cohabiting status 51
reproduced without the permission of the 1.1. Cvl socety 2
4.2.3. Voluntary sector income 6.2.3. Other background factors 51
© NCVO 2008 relevant organisation. 1.2. General chartes 2
streams 28 6.2.4. How giving to different causes
Registered Charity Number: 225922 1.3. Wder cvl socety 4
every effort has been made to ensure the 4.2.4. Types of income – clusters together 53
1.4. Lookng ahead 5
All rights reserved. No part of this accuracy of the information contained earned income 29 6.2.5. Methods of giving 53
publication may be reproduced, stored in a within this publication. However NCVO 4.2.5. Types of income – 6.2.6. Methods and tax-efficient
2. Cvl Socety Organsatons
retrieval system or transmitted in any form can not be held responsible for any action voluntary income 29 giving 53
n the UK
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, an individual or organisation takes, or fails 4.2.6. Types of income – 6.2.7. Conclusion 54
photocopying or otherwise, without the to take, as a result of this information. 2.1. Introducton 7 investment income 30 6.3. Data summary 55
prior permission of NCVO. 2.2. How many cvl socety 4.2.7. Sources of income 31
This publication is made possible with the
organsatons operate n 4.2.8. Sources of income –
Design by Steers McGillan Ltd kind assistance of the Northern Ireland 7. Workforce
the uk? 7 public sector 32
Printed by Latimer Trend Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA),
2.3. Data sources 11 4.2.9. Funding levels of 7.1. Executve summary 59
the Scottish Council for Voluntary
British Library Cataloguing in Public Data 2.4. Concluson 12 individual charities 7.2. Analyss 60
Organisations (SCVO) and the Wales
A catalogue record for this book is from government 33 7.2.1. Introduction 60
Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
available from the British Library 4.2.10. Funding from different 7.2.2. The voluntary sector’s workforce
3. The Voluntary Sector:
parts of government 36 has greatly increased 60
ISBN: 978 0 7199 1736 3 Populaton and Dstrbuton
4.2.11. Legacy income 36 7.2.3. Part-time work is a significant
3.1. Executve summary 14 4.3. Data summary 37 part of voluntary sector
3.2. Analyss 15 employment 60
3.2.1. Overview 15 7.2.4. Most of the voluntary sector
5. Expendture
3.2.2. Geographical distribution 15 workforce is female 61
3.2.3. Charities and need 17 5.1. Executve summary 42 7.2.5. Voluntary sector employees are
3.3. Data summary 18 5.2. Analyss 43 highly qualified and mainly work
5.2.1. Overview 43 in professional occupations 62

5.2.2. Fundraising and publicity 44 7.2.6. Huge expansion in voluntary sector
5.2.3. Investment management costs 44 workers employed in
5.3. Data summary 47 social work activities 62
7.2.7. Voluntary sector employees

are concentrated in small
workplaces 63
7.3. Data summary 64
v National Council for Voluntary Organisations National Council for Voluntary Organisations v
FOReWORD
CONTeNTS cont PHIL HOPe MP
As someone who spent many years in the The way the sector can transform public
8. Volunteers and Trustees 12. Independent Schools 16. Housng Assocatons
sector, and now as Minister for the Third services with its unique perspective and
8.1. Executve summary 68 12.1. Executve summary 102 16.1. Executve summary 129 Sector, I know only too well the value of innovative approaches is crucial. The
8.2. Analyss 69 12.2. Analyss 103 16.2. Analyss 130 the NCVO Almanac. Now in its eighth Almanac gives us a sense of the scale of
8.2.1. Introduction 12.2.1. Overview 103 16.2.1. Number 130 edition its contribution builds year upon the sector’s involvement in public services.
8.2.2. What volunteering is most 12.2.2. Pupil numbers 103 16.2.2. Income 130 year as our understanding of the third The challenge which remains to both
likely to involve 71 12.2.3. Assets 103 16.2.3. Assets and liabilities 130 sector deepens. government and the sector is to ensure
8.2.3. ‘Intensity’ of involvement 73 12.3. Data summary 105 16.3. Data summary 132 that this involvement has a truly
The Almanac adds to that knowledge and
8.2.4. Conclusion 74 transformational impact: to ensure that it
is on hand not just for policy makers and
8.3. Data summary 75 represents the sector – at its best and where
13. Trade Unons 17. Socal Enterprse Actvty researchers, but also fundraisers and
it wants to – working with government to
senior managers within the third sector
13.1. Executve summary 107 17.1. Introducton 134 drive improvement in services for the
9. Assets itself. Importantly, this year the Almanac
13.2. Analyss 108 benefit of those who use them.
is extending its focus to take a wider
9.1. Executve summary 78 13.2.1. Overview 108
18. Other Cvl Socety view of civil society, rather than just the And finally, what the Almanac is so good
9.2. Analyss 79 13.2.2. Membership 108
Organsatons voluntary sector, and I anticipate its value at doing is presenting hard facts about the
9.2.1. Overview 79 13.2.3. Assets and liabilities 110
and impact to grow enormously as a result. sector. This is urgent and important work:
9.2.2. Asset type 80 13.2.4. Conclusion 110 18.1. Introducton 136
to get the most from the sector, and to be
9.2.3. Tangible fixed assets 81 13.3. Data summary 111 18.2. Museums 136 The Almanac gives us an extraordinary
as helpful as we can to the sector, we need
9.2.4. Investment assets 81 18.3. Fath groups 137 snapshot of this dynamic and diverse
to understand it better and we need to
9.2.5. Liabilities 83 18.4. Other excepted chartes 139 sector and its contribution to society.
14. Poltcal Partes share the knowledge more widely.
9.3. Data summary 84 18.5. Chartable ncorporated
Firstly, in the role that the third sector That is why we are committed to
14.1. Executve summary 113 organsatons 139
plays in transforming society. Huge increasing our evidence base and why
14.2. Analyss 114 18.6. Sports clubs 140
10. Introducton to Cvl Socety changes throughout our history have we are investing in the creation of a new
14.2.1. Income and expenditure 114 18.7. Informal organsatons 141
occurred as a result of community and third sector research centre. It is my
10.1. Definng cvl socety 87 14.2.2. Membership 115
civic action demanding new rights and hope that the centre will add to our
10.1.1. Association life 87 14.2.3. Assets and liabilities 115
Appendces pressing for better policies. We want body of accessible and practically useful
10.1.2. The ‘good society’ 88 14.2.4. Conclusion 115
that to continue and are committed to information to enhance our understanding
10.1.3. The public sphere 88 14.3. Data summary 118 Appendx 1: Methodology 143
supporting those in the sector who of the sector, and to complement existing
10.1.4. Motivation 88 Appendx 2: Glossary 148
15. Co-operatves and FSA campaign and give a voice to the voiceless. sources like the Almanac.
10.1.5. Relationship with the state 88 Appendx 3: Acronyms and
Regstered Organsatons We also want greater recognition of the
10.1.6. Relationship with the private abbreviations 151 I am honoured to be able to contribute
multiple voices within and represented
sector 88 15.1. Executve summary Appendx 4: Further reading 153 to this volume.
by the third sector, and to build a culture
10.1.7. Blurred boundaries 88 15.2. Analyss 122 Appendx 5: The authors 155
where Government understands and
10.2. Classfyng CSOs 89 15.2.1. Overview 123 Appendx 6: Acknowledgements 157
celebrates the right of third sector
10.3. Man types of Cvl Socety 15.2.2. Funds 124
A map of Cvl Socety Organsatons organisations to campaign.
Organsaton 91 15.2.3. Conclusion 124
Insde front cover
10.4. Concluson 91 15.3. Data summary 125 The third sector is also important in
15.4. Other organsatons strengthening communities, with local
11. Unverstes
regstered wth the Fnancal organisations, large and small, working to Phil Hope is the minister for the third
11.1. Executve summary 94 Servces Authorty 126 improve their neighbourhoods and sector in the Cabinet Office
11.2. Analyss 95 15.4.1. Conclusion 124 bringing people together. We must cherish
11.2.1. Income and expenditure 95 and support them in developing a thriving
11.2.2. Sources of income 95 sector. And we must continue to highlight
11.2.3. Assets and liabilities 95 the benefits to individuals of getting
11.2.4. Conclusion 97 involved and volunteering and recognise
11.3. Data summary 99 the work they do.
C1 Nhatioanapl Cotuencirl fo r1 Voluntary Organisations Cvl Socety: An Overvew National Council for Voluntary Organisations 2
1.1 1.2
CIVIL SOCIeTY GeNeRAL CHARITIeS
Cvl Socety:
There were 865,000 cvl socety The long-term trend of general Indvdual organsatons’ fortunes are
organsatons wth a total ncome of chartes’ expanson contnues. mxed: many are dong well but many
£109 bllon n 2005/06. The total income of general charities others are strugglng.
While most of these are small community increased by almost 10% in real terms Given the volatility of income between
based organisations that have little income, to £31 billion from the previous year, years, we believe expenditure is a better
there are also a significant number of large while expenditure increased by almost guide to charity fortunes. While many
An Overvew
organisations with resources of many 15% to just over £29 billion. This growth charities increased their expenditure,
millions of pounds that have a strong far outstrips the UK economy and nearly one in five of the largest charities,
influence on British society. continues the increasing economic impact rising to three out of every five of the
of general charities. This expansion shows smallest charities, decreased their
General chartes, co-operatves,
no signs of slowing down in the near future expenditure between 2004/05 and
unverstes and housng assocatons
with the emphasis by government on 2005/06. While some of this decrease
domnate the cvl socety economc
increasing the role of the sector in public could be part of long-term strategies by
landscape.
The Civil Society Almanac represents our first attempt to identify the service delivery and the expansion of organisations it is unlikely to account for
Between them they account for over
number, scope and value of the groups, societies and organisations that enterprising activity. Whether the all of it. Therefore beneath the overall
three-quarters of the income and assets of
comprise civil society. This represents a significant shift from previous uncertainty around the UK economy in healthy growth it must be remembered
civil society organisations. They originate
2008 has an impact on general charities that many organisations are struggling.
Almanacs, which focused on ‘general charities’, those organisations with from three relatively distinct strands of the
remains to be seen.
charitable status that have traditionally been viewed of as the core of what is civil society tradition – charitable activity, Income growth was spread evenly
increasingly termed the third sector. The general charities definition remains mutualism and education. This reflects the Income volatlty remans a problem across most regons and natons...
breadth of civil society and its multi-layered for many organsatons. Yorkshire and the Humber and the South
at the core of this revised publication so as to enable a sense of continuity.
contribution to life in Britain. One in ten of the largest charities had large West experienced the strongest growth
swings in income over the two financial in income with only the North-east and
Civil society covers a much broader range of groups, societies and
years from 2003/4 to 2005/06, rising to a Wales having falling incomes. This reflects
organisations than just those with charitable status. Moreover, the
third of the smallest charities. This volatility the diversity of experiences across the UK
associational life mapped in the Almanac is, it has been argued, just one
makes financial planning difficult and leads and highlights the importance of tailoring
dimension of civil society. The inclusion of organisations with different to increased uncertainty for staff. While initiatives to local conditions.
traditions (such as co-operatives) or those at the boundaries (such as some swings in income are unavoidable,
…wth general charty densty hghest
universities) will not find agreement amongst all readers, but we have sought this highlights the importance of both the
n affluent areas.
Compact Funding Code, which tackles
to clearly identify each of the component parts to enable disaggregation. There are more charities per person in
income volatility for those organisations
wealthier areas than in less well-off areas,
which rely heavily on government funding,
The difficulty of covering such a broad range of entities, with no clear even when large, national charities are
and careful financial planning to mitigate
boundaries with the market and the state, inevitably means that the discounted. This would indicate that
this uncertainty where possible.
level of information available varies among the different parts of civil charities generally form where there is
prosperity rather than in areas of
society. Nevertheless, we are confident that our estimates are robust.
economic disadvantage. Further research
We will be refining our methodology in future almanacs to continue
is needed to understand this distribution.
to improve our estimates.
‘There were 865,000 civil society
organisations with a total income
of £109 billion in 2005/06.’
3 National Council for Voluntary Organisations Cvl Socety: An Overvew Cvl Socety: An Overvew National Council for Voluntary Organisations 4
1.3
WIDeR CIVIL SOCIeTY
For the first tme more than half of …but grant ncome from government The workforce has steadly ncreased, Moving beyond the organisations with Trade unons: Recent mergers have led Housng assocatons: Housng
general chartes ncome s earned... has been flat for five years. attractng hghly qualfied staff. charitable status at the heart of civil society, to the creaton of a smaller number of assocatons have a sgnficant role
This highlights the increasing importance This suggests that grants have been frozen The Labour Force Survey shows that the it is clear that a complex, diverse range of very large trade unons, gvng rse to a to play n the development of
of entrepreneurship in driving the rather than reduced, with statutory funders paid voluntary sector workforce has organisations share values or characteristics sgnficant concentraton of resources. communtes.
expansion of the sector. As the boundaries choosing instead to increasingly channel increased by 26% in the last 10 years, that identify them as part of civil society. In 2005/6 there were 193 trade unions in 5.3 million people live in 2.3 million houses
continue to blur between the private money through contracts. With different rising to to 611,000 employees in 2005. This first Civil Society Almanac reports on the UK with a combined income of £1.03 owned by housing associations in 2005/06.
sector and the charitable sector, funding mechanisms being suitable to One-third of employees have a degree some of the major component parts. billion. A series of mergers in recent years This represents roughly 10% of all UK
entrepreneurial activity will become achieve different objectives, the statutory level qualification and two-thirds are now means that members and resources homes. This is likely to rise further in the
Unverstes: The largest unverstes
more important to survive the increasing funders need to ensure that they choose educated to A-levels and above. are concentrated in a smaller number of future as the stock transfer from local
are more successful n securng research
competition. Yet general charities must appropriately when deciding which The increasing employment and large trade unions, with the 26 largest authorities that began in the 1990s
grants and contracts.
also not forget what makes them distinct funding mechanism to use. professionalisation of the sector is unions accounting for 88% of the continues. Given this prevalence, any
The total income of universities in 2005/06
from other sectors of the economy – enabling a voluntary sector career membership and 86% of income. initiative to build sustainable communities
Returns on general chartes’ was £19.5 billion with an almost identical
the values that underpin what they do. path that is becoming an increasingly will need to be developed in tandem with
nvestment assets contnue to fall... expenditure of £19.3 billion. However Poltcal partes: Labour and the
attractive choice for graduates. housing associations.
...wth most chartes recevng no For the 15% of charities that hold there was no one dominant source of Conservatves rely far more on donatons
money from the State. investment assets, returns on investment Formal volunteerng s ncreasng but income, with direct public funding, tuition than most other poltcal partes. Socal enterprse actvty: Socal
Over half of all charities receive no income were approximately 3.4% in 2005/06. less people are wllng to take postons fees and research grants all making up The total income of political parties in enterprse actvty accounted for
from statutory sources, though in contrast Moreover, there was wide variation in of responsblty. significant portions. While the smaller 2005/06 was £71.7 million. Labour and almost three-quarters of the entre
a third of organisations are heavily reliant. investment performance, with many The Citizenship Survey suggests that 44% universities rely most heavily on direct the Conservatives dominate the political ncome of the sector.
This highlights a division in the sector charities earning much more than this, of the population formally volunteered at public funding, the largest universities scene in the UK, between them taking In 2005/06 £77 billion was earned through
between those with close financial ties implying poor performance by many least once in 2005 compared to 39% in are far more successful in securing the 84% of the total income of political parties. enterprising activity by civil society
with statutory agencies, and therefore others. Despite this, expenditure on 2001. An estimated 1 million full-time available research grants and contracts. However almost half their income is made organisations. Therefore using a narrow
highly dependent on continued funding, investment management rose sharply, workers would be needed to replace these up of donations, with only 8% coming from definition of social enterprise that links the
Independent schools:
and those with no financial ties that are suggesting this is an area that is being volunteers at a cost of over £27 billion, membership subscriptions, contrasting concept to a particular organisational form
Larger ndependent schools earned
largely unaffected by changes in statutory taken increasingly seriously by charities. highlighting the importance of ensuring with membership subscriptions accounting underestimates the importance of social
far more money per pupl than smaller
funding levels. Over half of the largest that there is an environment which for 26% of total income for other parties. enterprise as an activity within civil society
...as does gvng by ndvduals, whch ndependent schools.
charities receive little or no funding from supports people in their wish to volunteer. Given the long term decline in party as a whole. A broader understanding is
has also fallen. The 2,500 independent schools in the UK
the State, dismissing the idea that large However organising or running an event membership, this is likely to affect the needed to ensure that there is an
The NCVO/CAF 2006/07 survey of had an income of £5.2 billion in 2005/06,
charities are an arm of government. and being a committee member have both finances of the two largest parties less appropriate mix of generic and specialist
charitable giving suggests that giving by amounting to £8,460 per pupil. However
fallen in popularity. This suggests that than the smaller parties. information and support available to all
Local government provdes the most individuals has fallen, with all causes bigger schools earned significantly more
although people are willing to undertake organisations engaging in social enterprise.
statutory ncome to general chartes… witnessing steady or declining incomes income from each pupil enrolled than Co-operatves: Co-operatves have a
volunteering as participants they are less
Income from local government was just apart from religious causes. Moreover, smaller independent schools. This suggests combned turnover almost as large as Other organsatons: Fath groups,
willing to do so as organisers.
under 50% of the total income from the proportion of the population giving the larger independent schools will pull general chartes. sports clubs and nformal communty
statutory sources, with just over 40% has fallen. This mirrors the fall in spending even further ahead financially. Co-operatives had an income of £26.2 groups are lackng detaled financal
coming from central government. on fundraising by charities, though we billion in 2005/06 with funds of £7.4 billion, nformaton.
This highlights the importance of the cannot be sure this is the cause of the fall £673 for each of the 11 million members. Faith groups, other excepted charities,
relationship between local government in giving. Charities that rely heavily on this Although charities are often perceived as sports clubs and informal community
and the sector and that local compacts form of income will need to diversify their the economic engine of civil society, groups that fall ‘under the radar’ lack
are fully implemented. income stream or prepare for a tougher co-operatives are clearly comparative comprehensive, easily available sources of
funding environment. in their economic importance. They information to allow a proper investigation
generated a healthy rate of return of almost of their financial state and therefore their
8% on their funds, indicating a strong circumstances and needs. We hope this lack
economic performance over the year. of information will be addressed in future.
5 National Council for Voluntary Organisations Cvl Socety: An Overvew Chapter 2 National Council for Voluntary Organisations 6
1.4
LOOKING AHeAD
Cvl Socety
The economic uncertainty that began in The Compact between government and
2007 will continue into 2008, with an the sector will be 10 years old in 2008.
economic slowdown and lower interests A main concern about the relationship
both widely predicted. Uncertainty around has been the lack of implementation of
the continued fall-out from the US Compacts by government. 2008 will be
sub-prime mortgage crisis as well as house the second year of the Commission for
Organsatons
and office space prices here in the UK will the Compact, with the training of 2,000
continue to adversely affect the economy. commissioners, and the main delivery year
It remains to be seen how this will affect for the public service delivery action plan.
civil society, but the difficulties at Northern It will be an interesting year, which could
Rock plc highlight the dangers. Individuals see a beneficial impact on the relationship
are also less likely to give if they feel between government and the sector.
n the UK
financially insecure.
A joint Office of the Third Sector/
The main political parties experienced economic and Social Research Council
wide swings in popularity in 2007 with funded Third Sector Research Centre is
the resurgent Conservative party ending due to begin work in 2008. This is likely to
with a commanding lead. This fierce rivalry lead to an improvement in the evidence
has been good for civil society, with both base of the sector, as well as a better use
the main parties pledging strong support. of evidence to inform decision making.
One of the main aims of the Civil Society Almanac has been to establish a
This support is likely to continue in 2008
work programme that over time builds our understanding of the groups,
as both the parties continue to see civil
societies and organisations that comprise the associational dimension of
society as a way to ensure community
development and social cohesion. civil society. This is no mean task: not only is civil society a contested
concept, but there are no clear boundaries between civil society and the
state or market. This means that decisions about which organisations are
included in civil society are themselves contested. Chapter 10 has a
detailed discussion as to which entities are included.
‘Civil society organisations have
combined assets of £196 billion’
7 National Council for Voluntary Organisations Cvl Socety Organsatons n the UK Cvl Socety Organsatons n the UK National Council for Voluntary Organisations 8
2.2
2.1 HOW MANY CIVIL SOCIeTY
INTRODUCTION ORGANISATIONS OPeRATe IN THe UK?
A key issue is that the notion of a civil Bearing in mind the limitations we have Assets are items of economic value owned Table 2.1
society ‘sector’ is untenable: this is in outlined above, we estimate there to be by an organisation (or person). Civil society Size of civil society organisations by parts of the sector, 2005/06
contrast to the clear identification of a approximately 865,000 civil society organisations have combined assets of
charity sector or even a third sector. organisations in the UK. These £196 billion, roughly 3% of the UK asset Name Organsatons Income Expendture Net Assets Staff Data qualty
Therefore, our starting point is that the organisations are estimated to have an base2. Many religious buildings have not (£m) (£m) (£m)
entities assembled in this publication income of £109 billion and an expenditure been included in these estimates due to a
share common values (such as a belief of £102 billion (table 2.1). These estimates lack of data; as such, their inclusion in the General charities 164,200 30,980 29,130 86,070 688,000 Good
in voluntary association) and practices are of course substantially higher than total is likely to result in a substantial Members of 4,400 26,210 25,630 7,420 193,000 Good
(the retention and application of surpluses those we have previously published for upward revision. Co-operativesUK
for social purposes). The voluntary and general charities, data on which we have
A further estimation difficulty is due to Universities 170 19,500 19,310 23,080 161,000** Good
community sector – or rather the maintained elsewhere in the Almanac.
the difficulty of inalienable assets. Many
organisations that it comprises – Housing associations 1,900 10,780 9,160 52,480 148,000 Good
We believe this to be a conservative organisations hold ‘inalienable’ assets –
is clearly at the heart of civil society.
estimate, both in terms of population and assets which cannot be sold without Independent schools 2,500 5,250 5,050 7,910 63,000** Good
However, a much broader range of
income estimates. Nevertheless, it is clear external consent as they are so valuable – Building societies 60 3,950 3,080 0*** 48,000 Good
entities, in some cases with different
civil society organisations are both a vital such as Tower Bridge. Thus civil society
traditions, are generally accepted as Trade associations & 290 1,560 1,510 1,760 17,000 Good
part of communities and a strong organisations have a unique place in
civil society organisations and these Professional bodies
contributor to the economy of the UK. securing the nation’s heritage, over and
have been included in our review.
The combined turnover of these above their substantial asset base. Trade unions 190 1,030 990 710 14,000 Good
Assuming that these philosophical organisations is larger than each of the
We estimate that civil society organisations Common investment 40 220 50 1,350 1,600 Good
challenges can be addressed, there then food and drink; electricity, gas and water
employed 1.37 million staff in 2005/06, funds
follow a series of operational challenges supply; and hotel and restaurant sectors
in terms of sourcing and assembling data of the economy1. a substantially higher figure than those Political parties 160 70 100 -50 700 Good
derived for voluntary organisations from
that adequately illustrate the scope and Industrial and provident 5,500 3,640 3,430 19,730 57,000 Limited
Moreover, these organisations are found the Labour Force Survey. This total
complexity of the entities in the civil societies *
throughout all parts of the UK, both equates to 6.4% of the total UK workforce
society universe. Given the difficulty of
advantaged and disadvantaged. It is and implies that civil society organisations Faith groups 13,000 3,470 3,200 12,900 47,000 Limited
the task, this is the first iteration of a
particularly in these disadvantaged areas are a major employer, on the same level as
continuing stream of research and we Friendly societies 420 460 - - 1,300 Limited
where other sectors of the UK have failed the primary and secondary education
expect to refine our methodology in Working men’s clubs 1,700 340 - - 11,000 Limited
to make an impact that civil society is so sector (which includes some civil society
future editions. Crucially, there are gaps
vital. Therefore over and above the organisations) and larger than the banking Benevolent societies 2,200 290 260 1,950 3,800 Limited
in our knowledge: unincorporated and
sizeable economic contribution must be and accountancy industries combined.
unregistered organisations (often referred Independent museums 1,100 220 200 690 3,100 Limited
an appreciation of the valuable social Our estimates of the paid workforce of
to as below the radar) are the obvious
contribution as well. course do not include the unpaid work of Community interest 200 160 - - 960 Limited
example, and as such our work clearly
trustees and volunteers. estimates of companies
underestimates the scope and cumulative
volunteering levels from the Home Office
size of civil society organisations. We will Sports clubs 122,000 6,100 5,900 - - Poor
Citizenship Survey are presented later in
address these gaps in future editions.
the Almanac. excepted charities 4,000 400 - - - Poor
Finally, the information in this chapter is Informal community 600,000 - - - - Poor
an amalgamation of the data found in the organisations
rest of the almanac, please see individual
chapters for more information on each Duplications 58,600 5,700 5,400 20,500 91,700
part of the sector. (removed from total)
Total size of civil society 865,000 109,000 102,000 196,000 1,367,000
* excluding members of Co-operativesUK
** academic staff only
*** A majority of building societies’ assets are deposits in the accounts of members,
therefore they have not been included in the final totals.
9 National Council for Voluntary Organisations Cvl Socety Organsatons n the UK Cvl Socety Organsatons n the UK National Council for Voluntary Organisations 10
Table 2.2 Table 2.2 Contnued
Data sources for different parts of civil society Data sources for different parts of civil society
Name Data sources Data strategy and ssues Data Name Data sources Data strategy and ssues Data
(prmary source first) qualty (prmary source first) qualty
General charities GuideStar UK, NCVO, Charities Annual Returns are entered into a database by Good Industrial and Office for National Statistics, Financial Services Authority provided a population, without Limited
Charity Commission, GuideStar UK. Full financial information is available for a large provident societies Financial Services Authority, financial details. Turnover was found for a sample of these on
Office for National Statistics, sample of charities in england and Wales. Data for Scotland (excluding members GuideStar UK the Inter-Departmental Business Register, provided by ONS.
SCVO, NICVA is provided by SCVO, and for Northern Ireland by NICVA. of Co-operatives UK) Some IPSs are registered charities. estimates of expenditure and
Non-general charities are identified and excluded. Assets are based on those of IPSs which are registered charities.
Members of Co-operatives UK Based on data collected by Co-operatives UK from their Good Faith groups GuideStar UK This population only includes those groups which are registered Limited
Co-operatives UK members. For smaller organisations, income, expenditure as charities, and an estimate of those that are excepted charities.
and assets are inferred from profit/loss. A large number of faith groups are too small to register and will
be missed. Many of the historical assets held by religious bodies
Universities Higher education Statistics Figures for all of the UK supplied by HeSA. No figures are Good (for example Churches), cannot be financially valued.
Agency, Universities UK available for non-academic staff.
Friendly societies Office for National Statistics, Financial Services Authority provided a population, without Limited
Housing National Housing Federation, NHF provided financial data for all Registered Social Landlords Good Financial Services Authority financial details. Turnover was found for a sample of these based
associations Communities Scotland, Welsh in england. Numbers of organisations and houses for other on the Inter-Departmental Business Register, provided by ONS.
Assembly Government, nations are used.
Working men’s Office for National Statistics, Financial Services Authority provided a population, without Limited
Northern Ireland Federation
clubs Financial Services Authority financial details. Turnover was found for a sample of these based
of Housing Associations
on the Inter-Departmental Business Register, provided by ONS.
Independent GuideStar UK, Independent Population data provided by ISC. A sample of schools with Good
Benevolent GuideStar UK Based on a set of registered charities excluded from the general Limited
schools Schools Council, Ofsted Charitable Status was taken, with data provided by GuideStar
societies charities definition, with financial information provided by
UK. Figures for non-ISC member schools are estimates.
GuideStar UK.
No figures for non-academic staff.
Independent GuideStar UK, Museums Incomplete, based on a search of the charities register. Limited
Building societies Building Societies Association, Building Societies Association provide statistics on their members Good
museums Libraries and Archives Council,
Office for National Statistics on their website. Building societies have large amounts of assets,
Museums Association
but the majority of these are funds deposited by their members.
CICs Office for National Statistics, The first Community Interest Companies were registered in Limited
Trade associations GuideStar UK Based on a set of registered charities excluded from the general Good
CIC regulator, NCVO August 2005. The data refers to those CICs which were formed
& Professional charities definition, with financial information provided by
before May 2006, and the income data may refer to a period later
bodies GuideStar UK.
than May 2006. No expenditure or assets data could be found.
Trade unions Certification Office Based on annual returns of all Trade Unions collected by Good Sports clubs Centre for Leisure Research, An estimate of the total number of sports clubs is made by Poor
Certification Office. The number of staff is estimated from Central Council of Physical extrapolating local research from Scotland to the whole of the
the labour force survey. Recreation UK. Figures for income and expenditure are extrapolated from a
survey conducted by the Central Council of Physical Recreation.
Common GuideStar UK Based on a set of registered charities excluded from the general Good
investment funds charities definition, with financial information provided by excepted charities Cabinet Office estimates of numbers for different types of excepted charities Poor
GuideStar UK. were reported in the run up to the Charities Act 2006.
The precise methodology used is unclear.
Political parties NCVO, electoral Commission Figures input manually by NCVO from accounts provided to Good
electoral Commission. Political parties’ finances will change Informal New economics Foundation Population based on a combination of local studies, including the Poor
based on the electoral cycle, the year analysed contained a community Local Voluntary Activity Surveys carried out by the Home Office.
general election. organisations The population is likely to be an underestimate of the total.
11 National Council for Voluntary Organisations Cvl Socety Organsatons n the UK Cvl Socety Organsatons n the UK National Council for Voluntary Organisations 12
2.3 2.4
DATA SOURCeS CONCLUSION
In addition to the organisations identified Table 2.2 gives an overview of the strategy ‘We estimate Policy makers and practitioners have been This almanac is necessarily brief in many
here, there are many informal organisations used for obtaining figures for each of the hampered by a lack of basic data about parts and we have done no more than
throughout civil society with no legal building blocks that we have assembled. that civil society civil society organisations which has produce an outline of the sector. However
identity or status and little, if any, financial This is explored further in appendix 1 led to uncertainty about its importance, we hope to have pointed the way for
resources. It is difficult to robustly estimate while a detailed methodology is available organisations characteristics and needs. This almanac future research that will further examine
how many such organisations there are, at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/almanac. We have has taken up the challenge directly, the nature of civil society organisations
because their nature makes very difficult also given an indication of the quality of employed 1.35 assembling all the constituent parts to and their relationship with communities
to identify and then collect data from. the data, which we hope to improve upon. provide the first estimates of the total and wider society. To that end we will be
However we can be more certain of the Furthermore we will be able to give a view million staff in size of civil society organisations. producing a number of publications
economic impact of formal civil society of changes over time for parts of wider exploring some of the results found in this
While these estimates will undoubtedly
organisations because of the uneven civil society in the future rather than the 2005/06’ almanac in more depth over the coming
improve in future almanacs, we hope we
distribution of resources between those snapshots presented here. year and, of course, future editions of the
have provided a guide that demonstrates
organisations: in short, a relatively small almanac to follow changes over time.
Where possible, official registers and the importance of the sector to the UK.
number of organisations are responsible
audited accounts provided the data used. Civil society encompasses a highly varied
for a much larger proportion of the formal
In some cases, notably Industrial and range of organisations of differing sizes
resources (income; employees; assets)
Provident Societies, Friendly Societies and activities that operate in communities
deployed by these organisations. While the
and Working Men’s Clubs, the regulator’s across the UK, bought together by shared
overall total is an underestimate, we believe
register was used to find the number of values for the benefit of society, without
that it is representative of the economic
organisations and the Inter-departmental which life in the UK would be
weight of the organisations that comprise
Business Register (supplied by the Office unrecognisable.
civil society.
for National Statistics) was the source
of the corresponding data on income.
When no primary data was available,
previous research was used.
Regstered Chartes excluded operate as Non-Departmental Public In addition to these charities are those ‘We estimate there to be approximately 865,000 civil
from cvl socety Bodies. examples include the British that are excluded from the General
The Charity Commission’s register of Council, UCAS and The Guy’s & Charities set because they are inactive, society organisations in the UK. These organisations
charities contains 460 entities with a St Thomas’ Charity. either through recording no income or
combined income of over £3.4 billion annual return for three years, or because are estimated to have an income of £109 billion and
At present independent hospitals are also
that do not fall into our definition of a charity has re-registered with the
included in this category, but it is hoped
civil society. This is because they are commission, leaving a duplicate an expenditure of £102 billion’
that we will be able to separate out the
ultimately controlled by government organisation behind. There are 9,333
independent hospitals from those owned
and therefore we believe form part of organisations with no activity recorded
by government in the future so that they
government rather than civil society. since January 2003, and 438 organisations
can be included within civil society.
The majority of these, controlled at a which are duplicates of other organisations.
central or local level (or by the NHS),
Table 2.3
Registered Charities excluded from civil society, 2005/06
Footnotes
1 Office for National Statistics (2006) Annual
Organsatons Income Expendture Assets Business Inquiry: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
(£m) (£m) (£m) abi/default.asp
2 Office for National Statistics (2006) Capital
Central or local government administered 115 2,382.0 2,338.3 876.8
Stocks, Capital Consumption and Non-Financial
NHS administered or independent hospitals 348 1,058.4 1,130.8 2,251.6 Balance Sheets: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
downloads/theme_economy/
Total 463 3,440.4 3,469.1 3,128.4 capstockfullpub2007.pdf
C13 Nhatioanapl Ctouencirl f o3r Voluntary Organisations The Voluntary Sector: Populaton and Dstrbuton National Council for Voluntary Organisations 14
3.1
exeCUTIVe SUMMARY
The Voluntary
Chartable actvty contnues to grow. Growth n the number of chartes ‘…charities generally
The number of general charities grew occurred n all ncome bands. This points
strongly in 2005/06. Our estimates are in to a healthy sector with charities increasing form where there
part affected by significant changes to the in income at all levels, combined with a
new charities register in Scotland by the large number of new entrants. is prosperity rather
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Sector: Scotland and the South West of
(OSCR1). OSCR has sought to create an than where there
England have the hghest densty of
accurate register of active charities in
chartes, with more than 1 charity for
Scotland. This has resulted in a 35% is need’
every 250 people, almost twice as many
decrease in the number of Scottish
per person as in the North east of england.
charities, compared with 6.6% and
In england, the further North one travels,
7% increases in england and Wales
Populaton and the less charities there are on average per
respectively. This resulted in 164,195
person, though this masks significant
General charities, a decrease of 220
differences within regions. There are also
from last year.
differences among communities with the
more prosperous communities having
greater numbers of charities than less
Dstrbuton prosperous ones.
Fgure 3.1
Change in number of charities in UK nations, 2004/05 – 2005/06 (%)
% Change -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10
| | | | | |
UK -0.1
N. Ireland 0.0
Scotland -34.9
Wales 7.0
England 6.6
Note: Due to lack of data on the number of Northern Irish charities, this figure has been kept
constant over the two years. Source: NCVO, GuideStar UK, Scottish Council for Voluntary
Organisations (SCVO), Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)