UK Civil Society Almanac 2024

In 2021/22, there were approximately 166,000 voluntary organisations in the UK.

This small, but important 0.5% increase from 2020/21 continues the sector’s rebound from the challenges brought by the covid-19 pandemic.

The vast majority (80%) of organisations remain micro and small (income below £100,000).

Large, major, and super-major organisations (income above £1m) represent just 4% of the sector, but continue to dominate in terms of income, spending, and assets.

Voluntary organisations continue to work across various subsectors.

Social services remains the largest subsector, representing:

• 19% of all organisations
• 23% of total income.

Other notable subsectors include culture and recreation, religion, and international development.

Larger organisations in the social services and health sectors also play a significant role in driving income and impact.

In 2021/22, the voluntary sector’s total income increased by 9% compared to the previous year, reaching £69.1bn. This was largely due to a recovery in public donations and earned income.

Expenditure grew more modestly, rising by 2% to £65.4bn. This allowed organisations to begin addressing some of the financial pressures from the pandemic.

While the largest organisations continue to account for most of the sector's financial resources, smaller organisations face ongoing challenges.

Micro and small organisations make up 3% of income and spending.

In 2021/22 around 14.2 million people (27% of the population) volunteered formally. This was a slight decline from pandemic levels but a sign of stabilisation.

Informal volunteering, while also lower than earlier pandemic levels, continues to engage 46% of the population. This demonstrates the resilience of community-driven efforts.

Deprivation remains a key barrier. People in more deprived areas are:

• less likely to volunteer formally
• more likely to face financial and health-related constraints.

In 2024, the voluntary sector employed 978,000 people, about 3% of the UK workforce. This is a slight decline from 2023, reversing the previous year’s growth.

Despite this, since 2011, the sector's workforce has grown by 30%.

Hybrid and remote working continue to rise and 39% of the workforce now work either from home or in a hybrid arrangement. This is a higher proportion than in both the public and private sectors.

Social work remains the largest employing subsector, accounting for 39% of the workforce.

Voluntary organisations remain disproportionately concentrated in London and the south of England, with these regions accounting for 48% of income and 64% of assets in England.

Smaller organisations, however, are more evenly distributed across the country. Scotland and Northern Ireland continue to have the highest density of organisations per population.

The voluntary sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of economic and social challenges, contributing to 7.5% of overall UK income in 2021/22.

Social services remained the largest contributing subsector, and the voluntary sector workforce accounted for approximately 3% of the UK’s total workforce.

The sector's recovery is evident, but ongoing challenges – particularly for smaller organisations and those operating in more deprived areas – will require continued adaptation and support.

As the sector navigates a post-pandemic society, it will remain a vital force for social good, innovation and community cohesion.