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 have a diverse community of over 12,000 member organisations – a third of the voluntary sector workforce in England. We help them thrive by providing expert support and advice, by saving them time and money, and by keeping them up to date with the news that affects them.

We’re here to help our members make even more of a difference.

• 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
• Read NCVO's theory of change

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 Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE 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.

We will:

• use evidence. We base what we say and do on the best research and our members’ experiences.
• be creative. We explore new ideas and approaches, looking for what will ADD real value.
• be collaborative. We work with our members and partners to achieve the best results.
• be inclusive. We value diversity and work to make sure that opportunities are open to all.
• work with integrity. We are open and honest, and do what we believe is best for our members, volunteers and the voluntary sector.