Local people. Local causes. Local change.
The voluntary and community sector (VCS) has shaped much of modern life. It helped bring in the Equality Act 2010. It has driven progress in disability rights, mental health, the environment and support for vulnerable people.
Think about what these areas would look like without it. Who looks after people at home if not unpaid carers? Who pushed smoking and alcohol harm onto the political agenda before government acted? Who fills the gaps the NHS can’t reach, through hospices and patient groups? Who gives children their first go at football, swimming or drama? Who looks after our parks, picking litter and protecting green spaces?
The VCS does more than provide services. It holds power to account. It creates art and culture. It protects the environment and local heritage. It gives a voice to people who would otherwise go unheard. Without it, our society would be thinner and less fair, with less say for the people closest to the problems.
What does ‘VCS’ mean?
The voluntary and community sector (VCS) covers a wide range of groups. For us, this encompasses local community groups, charities (big and small), social enterprises, faith groups, co-operatives, housing associations and trade unions. You might also hear it called the “third sector” or “civil society.”
Most VCS groups are run by volunteers. Think of a village hall committee, a Saturday morning football club, or neighbours running a food bank from a church hall. Some have one paid member of staff, like a community centre coordinator. Very few have a full staff team, like the ones needed to run helplines or provide nursing care. People often picture charities as big organisations with offices, like Oxfam or Macmillan. But most are small and run by a handful of dedicated people.
What does it look like locally?
Harrow’s VCS is just as varied as the diverse community in it. We have groups of all shapes and sizes, but they are mostly small and working locally. Despite this theymkae a BIG impact! Supporting
Some organisations are called “infrastructure bodies.” Instead of delivering services themselves, they support other groups in the VCS. In Harrow, this includes:
Specialist infrastructure groups also play a part, such as:
How
Myth-Busting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In our opinion, no. Are there too many flavours of crisps, too many choices of cereal? Some would say yes, but the reason they exist is they serve something for someone. The same is true of charities. Diversity of choice isn’t inefficiency, it’s responsiveness. Communities are not uniform, needs are not uniform, and the charities that spring up to meet them reflect that.
Charity CEO pay often draws criticism, but most executives earn modest salaries. Higher salaries at large charities reflect the scale and complexity of running organisations with major income, staff, and regulatory demands.
Volunteers are vital to charities, but even volunteer-reliant organisations sometimes need full-time staff for core services and specialist roles. Employees can provide the continuity, qualifications, and co-ordination that volunteering alone often cannot guarantee, especially in more complex charities.
Groups get their money from many different places, not just donations. This includes grants from government and lottery funders, income from trading (like shops or paid-for services), contracts to deliver public services, and fundraising from individuals, events and businesses.
No. Most of a groups money goes towards its work, not wages. This includes running services, buying equipment, covering rent, and delivering projects in the community. Staff costs are part of this, because charities need people to do the work, but they are usually only one part of the overall spend. Charities must publish their accounts each year, so anyone can see exactly how the money was used.
No. No two charities are the same. A large international charity works very differently to a small local charity . They have different goals, different costs, and different ways of working. This is why it’s hard to compare charities directly, or judge them all by the same rule.
Trust and impact often matter more than how a charity’s finances are broken down. Do you believe in the cause, and do you trust the charity to use its resources well? The vast majority of charities are financially responsible and make a genuine impact with the resources they have.