Communities and neighbourhoods

Third sector, community and voluntary groups

The Government defines the third sector as non-governmental organisations that are value driven and which principally reinvest their surpluses to further social, environmental or cultural objectives. It includes voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals. We also include housing associations within the third sector.

The Government recognises the value of the diversity of organisations in the sector providing voice for under represented groups, in campaigning for change, in creating strong, active and connected communities, in promoting enterprising solutions to social and environmental challenges and in transforming the design and delivery of public services.

Communities and Local Government, and many in the third sector, share the same broad vision and aims of prosperous and cohesive communities. We work closely with the Office of the Third Sector who have lead responsibility for the third sector within Government. The Office of the Third Sector and HM Treasury are currently undertaking a joint review of "The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration". This will set out the Government priorities for enabling an independent and thriving sector over the next three years.

We asked you for views on our Departmental draft third sector strategy, which aims to set a framework for effective, on-going engagement with the sector. The deadline for responses was 20 September 2007.

Further information is available below.