About us
Our vision
NCVO champions the voluntary sector and volunteering because they’re essential for a better society.
Each day, millions of people make a difference through voluntary organisations and volunteering. Our vision is a society where we can all make a difference to the causes that we believe in.
Our members
We represent over 16,000 voluntary organisations, charities, community groups and social enterprises across England. We support our members by developing practical resources designed to support the day-to-day running of their organisations, saving them time to focus on their beneficiaries.
- Find out more about NCVO membership
Our work
We champion the voluntary sector by connecting, representing and supporting voluntary organisations. We work to help voluntary organisations and volunteers make the biggest difference they can.
- We connect organisations with the people, partners and resources they need to make the biggest difference.
- We represent the voluntary sector and volunteering to government – using the best research, we demonstrate their true value and help influence policy-makers.
- We support voluntary organisations by generating and identifying the best knowledge and expertise.
Our strategy
Our strategy is built around a clear mission – to help our members make the biggest difference.
- Read NCVO's strategy
Our history
NCVO started in 1919 as the National Council of Social Service, following a legacy from Edward Vivian Birchall, who died of wounds in France during World War I.
Since then we have continued to support the sector and speak to government in an ever-changing social context. Many established voluntary organisations started out as projects within NCVO, including Age Concern, Citizens Advice Bureau and Community Matters.
Our governance
NCVO is governed by a 12-person trustee board and our 50-strong Members' Assembly, which reflects the breadth of NCVO membership. Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE is the president of NCVO.
- Find out more about our governance
- Read our annual reports
Our values
Our values shape NCVO's culture. They guide how we behave and make decisions.
- Open. We’ll be open about how we work and how we make decisions, and the things we learn along the way.
- Collaborative. We’ll work with our members and with the people and organisations who want charities and volunteering to thrive.
- Inclusive. We’ll ensure that our work is inclusive of all voices, bringing the experience and insights of our diverse membership to shape what we do and how we work.
- Ambitious. We’ll be ambitious for charities and volunteers as our society recovers and rebuilds, in the knowledge that they continue to provide essential support to communities across the country.
