State of the Third Sector Report
The Third Sector, also known as the Voluntary and Community Sector, has a long history of serving and representing local communities, and particularly the most vulnerable members of our society.
There are over 400 Third Sector Organisations in Barking & Dagenham, ranging in size and activity. These organisations provide vital public services and ensure that the voices of local communities are heard. They also provide opportunities for voluntary activity and community involvement, empowering people to take control of the issues affecting their lives.
Barking & Dagenham's Third Sector Organisations are managed by local residents and carry out tremendous work in the borough. Without them, the public sector would simply be unable to respond effectively to local needs
With so many independent Third Sector Organisations it is not always easy to see and appreciate the fantastic contribution that the sector makes to life in the borough. Barking & Dagenham CVS has launched a State of the Sector report to give a more detailed picture of the Third Sector and show the contribution that the sector makes locally.
The report shows a vibrant and enterprising Third Sector which is well developed but has not lost the ethos of community involvement and participation through volunteering. The report shows that volunteers and unpaid trustees in the Third Sector last year made an incredible in-kind contribution to the local economy of almost £30 million.
This State of the Sector report is a timely reminder of just how important the Third Sector is, and the vital role it plays in civic society. It will help to improve understanding of the Third Sector by our strategic partners and our funders, and will be a useful tool for the sector to lobby for increased influence and resources.