“Volunteering is, by definition, freely given. Tying it to settlement undermines its spirit, distorts its purpose and risks damaging public trust."

Three-quarters of charities oppose the government’s plans to link volunteering to settlement in the UK, according to a new survey by @ncvo.bsky.social

Government plans to link volunteering with immigration status have raised concerns across the charity sector. We’re adding our voice to that of @ncvo.bsky.social, who are calling for a different approach. Learn more: thewea.info/45PRNGr

“We must ensure civil society is protected. By reaffirming our shared values and creating a space for positive, inclusive action, this campaign can help ensure charities are able to continue to meet the needs of the people and communities that rely on them.” Kate Lee, CEO

“Charities do, and always will, bring something vital to the impact economy: a moral compass rooted in public benefit; the ability to reach the hardest-to-reach communities and causes; and data, passion, knowledge, and experience built up since Victorian times.” Kate Lee, CEO

The VCSE Barometer Survey is live! In May 2024, 4 in 10 VCSE organisations reported that they did not have enough volunteers to meet their core objectives. Wave 13 of the survey explores recruitment, retention and the growing pressures on volunteering. Share your experience now - ow.ly/zpjK50Y3BYq

Still time to apply for the #SmallCharityWeek 2026 match funding campaign ⏰ Last year, 97% of charities boosted digital fundraising confidence, despite 90% starting with little or no experience. Find out more and apply 👉 biggive.org/small-charity-week/

"The announcement of the Local Government Partnerships Fund is a significant and welcome step in embedding the principles of the Civil Society Covenant into everyday practice for charities." Kate Lee, CEO

"Let’s not only be talking about this because of the financial pressures on our organisations. Let’s be genuinely looking at whether we can improve impact for beneficiaries.” Kate Lee, CEO

“The next step is for the covenant’s structures to be set up as a priority, so government can begin engaging meaningfully with civil society on its implementation.” Kate Lee, CEO

This article by By Dr. Natasha Hirst highlights that despite rising hostility and limited resources, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) remains essential to the charity sector’s values and effectiveness. Read the full article here - dileaders.com/blog/protect...

"The commitment from the prime minister to build a council that works directly with Number 10 recognises the strength and skills of voluntary organisations in helping solve challenges which are preventing communities from thriving." Kate Lee, CEO

"Using the findings from this report, we need to ensure the sector, its partners and friends, come together to support organisations that are simply trying to deliver their vital work." Kate Lee, CEO

The charity sector has navigated a period of significant difficulty in recent months – feeling increasingly unsafe and under threat amid rising societal tensions. Read our full report - Challenges Facing Charities in Divided Times: ncvo.org.uk/news-and-ins...

“Despite years of commitments, this data shows little meaningful progress. Competitive tendering, characterised by burdensome processes and short-term underfunded contracts, creates significant barriers for charities." - Rebecca Young NCVO Policy and Public Affairs Lead

Last week's #Budget2025 set out plans for tax, spending and public services, with important steps for families and children, but charities continue to face significant financial and operational pressure. Read our full analysis: www.ncvo.org.uk/news-and-ins...

Charities barely feature in yesterday’s #AutumnBudget, despite their essential role in communities and the economy. With rising demand and costs, the sector needs investment, fair funding and better policy support. Read our response from yesterday below - further analysis will follow later today.

Ending the two-child benefit cap in today's budget is huge, wonderful news for the 500,000 children lifted out of poverty and the 1 million who will face less deep poverty. But the other 4.1m children in poverty deserve the same. This was the right start: now do the rest.

Scrapping the two-child limit shows this government is serious about child poverty, lifting 350,000 children above the poverty line overnight. Poverty can affect every aspect of a child’s present and future life, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been changed for the better today.

“Charity workers deserve fair pay for the vital work they do, so we welcome the rise in the national living wage. However, many charities are already under severe financial pressure to meet the rising cost of delivering services."

“Following this announcement, we need to see a genuine partnership with civil society, in line with the principles of the Civil Society Covenant, so that the policy is developed with organisations, not for them." - Leigh Brimicombe, NCVO Chief Influencing Officer

"The idea of mandating volunteering as a condition for those seeking indefinite leave to remain fundamentally undermines the idea of volunteering." Leigh Brimicombe, NCVO Chief Influencing Officer

“Our congratulations to Dame Julia Unwin. At a time when charities face sustained financial and social pressures, we look forward to a constructive working relationship focused on fair, independent and proportionate regulation." Leigh Brimicombe, NCVO Executive Director

“For any civil society organisation, the starting point should be getting clarity on what it is they are trying to achieve and which stakeholders – political or otherwise – are key to success.”

Introducing #CivicThreads, a new UK-wide collaboration led by NICVA with @scvo.scot, @wcvacymru.bsky.social & @ncvo.bsky.social to strengthen connections across the voluntary & community sectors. Building shared leadership, policy tools & dialogue across the UK. Funded by UK Gov’s Connect Fund.

"Our analysis highlights a sector that understands what good governance looks like but still finds it hard to live it consistently. Many boards have strong intentions, but translating those into culture takes sustained effort." Sally Stephens, NCVO’s lead governance consultant

There’s still time to take part in this wave of the VCSE Barometer Survey! The survey builds insight into real-time trends, changes and challenges in the UK voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Help share your views today - bit.ly/4nzv5sN #CharityResearch #VoluntarySector

With the use of artificial intelligence (AI) continuing to grow and emerging as a powerful tool for charities, Phoenix and NCVO carried out a survey earlier this year to understand how prepared charities are for using AI. Read the full report - phoenixs.co.uk/resources/bl...

Support from the Charity Commission to protect charities from being weaponised for political ends is crucial. Too many charities are facing abuse simply because of who they support. NCVO was proud to sign the @equallyours.bsky.social letter urging the government to act.

Yesterday's story in @theguardian.com reveals the impact of toxic rhetoric around immigration and marginalised communities. It's leading to threats targeted at charities. We have signed the @equallyours.bsky.social letter to the PM urging him to challenge this. theguardian.com/politics/202...

Every year, charities miss out on £560m in unclaimed Gift Aid tax relief. When you #TickTheBox, charities can do so much more! On #GiftAidAwarenessDay let's celebrate all the amazing charities and the supporters who help them maximize their impact!

Volunteers are at the heart of charities, yet numbers are at a record low. Volunteering is a great way for people to share their skills with causes they care about. And research shows that it’s not only good for the charity, and the volunteer, but also the employer.

Right now, vital organisations are being targeted because of what they stand for and who they support. At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have already closed their offices after credible threats to their safety. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

We are deeply shocked by the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester yesterday. Our condolences go to all those affected. This tragedy is a stark reminder that rising extremism threatens communities, social cohesion, and the charities that support them.

Yesterday marked our final day at #Lab25, and in this video our head of membership and engagement, Hollie Banu, reflects on some key moments. If your charity has an income under £30k, you can apply for free NCVO membership. Find out more: ncvo.org.uk/get-involved...

📢 We’re recruiting our next Chair of Trustees. Working closely with our new CEO, Kate Lee OBE, they will lead our trustee board through a period of transformation, including development of our new long-term strategy. attenti.co.uk/ncvochair/ho...

Delighted to visit @ncvo.bsky.social stand at the Labour Conference and sign their big board of charity leaders! Thanks Saskia and Seth and all at NCVO for standing up for the third sector!

We're proud to be a part of this!

Proud to welcome Spark Inside to our #LabourConference2025 stand today. They help people in prison build skills, confidence & hope through creative coaching & mentoring. Here’s Spark Inside CEO @vickihcardwell.bsky.social with @dawnbutlerbrent.bsky.social

Delighted that the first signatory to our Change Wall at the Labour Party Conference today is Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women & Equalities. #Lab25 #LetsCreateChangeTogether

We are at the Labour Party conference today, promoting the work charities and voluntary organisations do in ensuring society works for everyone. Visit us on stand D16 to find out how we can create change together! #Lab25 #LPC2025

It’s #NationalInclusionWeek (15–21 Sept)! Everyone has a role in making organisations inclusive and reflective of society’s diversity. Unsure where to start? Our guidance can help you start to take action. www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-gui...

Delays in the rollout of the Local Growth Fund are putting voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland at risk. @nicva.org’s ‘NI Can’t Wait’ campaign is critical in calling for urgent government action and support.

Congratulations to @ncvo.bsky.social and @kateleeceo.bsky.social on this appointment – we can’t think of anyone better for the role than a former AMRC charity CEO! We look forward to continuing to work with you in championing the charity sector.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has appointed Kate Lee as its next chief executive @ncvo.bsky.social

📢 We’re excited to welcome @kateleeceo.bsky.social as our new chief executive this autumn. With a wealth of experience in the voluntary sector and a track record of championing charities, communities and volunteers, Kate will lead NCVO into its next chapter. www.ncvo.org.uk/news-and-ins...

Evaluation often ends up separate from delivery, making it harder to use when decisions count. Our lead consultant, Sini Rinne-Kerridge shares how we support charities to build practical, sustainable approaches to self-evaluation. www.ncvo.org.uk/news-and-ins...

“The government’s public procurement consultation presents a real opportunity to influence and improve the commissioning and procurement environment for the voluntary sector." - Saskia Konynenburg, NCVO Interim CEO @saskiaalice.bsky.social

The government is consulting on changes to how public bodies buy goods and services. We’ve published a short news piece summarising the proposals and our next steps. ncvo.org.uk/news-and-ins... Complete our short survey by 09.00 on 18 August: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/respon...

How do you use or share data in your #VCSE organisation? What support do you need? Take 10 minutes to shape future tools and training. Survey open until 13 Aug: bit.ly/461vHld #VoluntarySector