Sustaining the Third Sector

Since its launch in Northern Ireland in 1989, Business in the Community has acted as a broker between the private, public and community sectors working towards the greater sustainability of the voluntary sector. The voluntary and community sector with assets of over £750 million represents 4.5% of the Northern Ireland workforce.

With less government funding available, it is only those voluntary and community organisations that can exploit opportunities to generate revenue and operate in an increasingly business-like and innovative manner that will survive. The private sector can provide considerable support in achieving these goals by sharing skills and resources with the voluntary and community sector.

The sustainability of the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland has attracted much interest and attention over the past number of years. As the current European Funding programmes draw to a close, Northern Ireland will not attract the same levels of financial support from Europe, placing significant pressures on the voluntary sector.

In March 2004, Business in the Community made a joint response on behalf of the CBI, Institute of Directors, NI Chamber of Commerce and North South Roundtable to two government consultation papers dealing with the issue of the sustainability of the voluntary sector – the DSD’s Pathways for Change and the DETIs Developing a successful economy. Click here for a copy of the response.

Future developments
Only those voluntary and community organisations that operate in an increasingly business-like and entrepreneurial manner and can exploit opportunities to generate revenue will survive. Over the next three years, Business in the Community, through its members will support the sector by:

• Involving business in contributing to the policy debate and helping to shape and influence policy
• Encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship in the Third Sector
• Introducing imaginative and innovative initiatives for supporting the Third Sector.