What is the voluntary sector?
The purpose of the voluntary sector is to improve and enrich society.
It exists to create social wealth rather than material wealth.
It is sometimes referred to as civil society, the third sector, the voluntary and community, non-profit, not-for-profit, charity, social and even beyond profit sector. It is made up of many different categories of activity affecting many aspects of society. The various terms are used by different people to include different combinations of activity which can be confusing.
The common understanding behind our categorisation of the sector is that it exists to make a difference to society rather than to make financial profits.