Fact and Figures on the Sector

Key facts on the third sector

In 2006/07 there were 870,000 civil society organisations in the UK with a total income of £116 billion and assets of £210 billion.
The total income of general charities in the UK was £33 billion in 2006/07, a 40% (£9 billion) increase since 2000/01.
464,000 full-time employees were employed in the sector in England in 2007/08, an increase of over 50,000 FTEs since 2000/01.
73% of adults took part in some form of volunteering in England in 2007/08; this level is unchanged since 2001.
Across Government departments 65.7% of grants on average are for three years or more.
Income from Government totalled £12 billion in the UK in 2007/08; an increase of £3.6 billion since 2000/01.

In 2006/07 there were over 137,000 general charities in England.
There are approximately 61,800 social enterprises in England (average estimate 2005-2007).
NCVO estimate there were 600,000 informal community organisations in the UK in 2006/07.
In 2006/07 54% of general charities in England had an annual turnover of under £10,000; 85% had an annual turnover of under £100,000.

The total income of general charities in the UK was £33 billion in 2006/07, of which 51% was earned, 41% was voluntary and 8% was investment income.
In 2005, social enterprises had a turnover of £27 billion and contributed £8.4 billion to the UK economy.

Income from Government in 2006/07 totalled £12 billion in the UK. This included £7.8 billion from contracts and £4.2 billion from grants.
Since 2000/01, statutory income from contracts in the UK has increased by £4 billion.
Across government departments 65.7% of grants on average are for three years or more.
98 (65%) of England’s 152 top tier local authority areas have chosen to prioritise third sector indicators in their local area agreement. 63 have chosen NI7 (environment for a thriving third sector), 44 have chosen NI6 (participation in volunteering) and nine have included both NI6 and NI7.

In 2007/08, 540,000 people were employed by the sector in England.
In 2007/08 there were 464,000 full-time equivalent employees in the sector in England – 159,000 men (34%) and 305,000 women (66%).

In 2007/08, 73% of adults in England volunteered (formally or informally) at least once in the last 12 months, 48% volunteered at least once a month.
In 2007/08, 27% of adults in England formally volunteered at least once a month, and 43% formally volunteered at least once in the last 12 months.
In 2007/08, 35% of people in England informally volunteered at least once a month, and 64% informally volunteered at least once in the last 12 months.
In 2007/08, 41% of people in England from groups at risk of social exclusion volunteered (formally and informally) at least once a month.
In 2007/08, 24% of 16-24 year olds in England formally volunteered at least once a month.
Whilst there has been variation within these figures over time, current levels of regular formal and informal volunteering in England in 2007/08 are in line with those from 2001.

In 2005, 78% of people in England had given to charity in the four weeks prior to interview.
In 2005, the average amount given to charity was £15.17 in the four weeks prior to interview.
Levels of giving in the UK as a % of GDP are the highest in Europe at 0.73%, and are second only to levels of giving in the USA (1.67% of GDP).

In 2008, 16% of English third sector organisations felt that local statutory bodies had a positive influence of their success (NI7).
Of English third sector organisations who felt able to influence local decisions, 65% felt that local statutory bodies had a positive influence on their success (2008).
Of English third sector organisations that had direct dealings with local statutory bodies, 58% felt they had a positive influence on their success.
In 2008, 89% of English third sector organisations felt they were successful in meeting their objectives.
In 2008, 84% of English third sector organisations felt confident they would be successful in meeting their objectives over the coming year.