What is VCSE

What does VCSE mean?

VCSE stands for voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. It has also been called the third sector, the charity sector or civil society in different times and contexts.

Some may know it as the VCS meaning the voluntary and community sector; social enterprise is a term that’s become better known recently, hence the NHS now calls it the VCSE.

In the NHS, you may also hear PIVO which stands for Private, Independent and Voluntary Organisations, which includes for-profit as well as non-profit organisations.

What is the VCSE sector?

The local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) is a ‘home-grown’ resource, formed of many organisations and groups which were set up to tackle a wide range of local social, environmental and economic issues.

As independent-minded and autonomous entities, VCSE organisations decide what their objectives should be, garner the resources to get things done, develop and use working practices that suit them best and develop relationships with other organisations as and when this helps them to achieve their aims.

How big is the VCSE

The financial value of the VCSE sector is more than £2 billion and we estimate this produces £7.4 billion of added value in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West. Our VCSE sector is composed of about 7,500 registered organisations of which 75% are charities. Most VCSE organisations are small, locally focused and have income below £50,000 per year.

Find out more about sector size

How do we work with people and communities?

The main population groups we work with in the VCSE are people with physical disabilities, mental health conditions and learning disabilities as well as households living in poverty and in rural areas. Many VCSE organisations operate with as well as for people who need support and assist people in the context of their families and communities: we call this co-production.

Find out more about co-production

What is the VCSE impact?

The top five areas in which VCSE organisations report that they make a strong impact are: giving people the confidence to manage their lives; enhancing the cultural and artistic life of the community; improving health and wellbeing; reducing social isolation and empowering people in the community

Find out more about impact

Who works in the VCSE

We estimate that there are 44,500 paid staff working across 2,500 VCSE employers and contributing 80% of VCSE energy. The remaining 20% of VCSE energy comes from the 162,000 regular volunteers. This means that 1 in 8 of the population across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West is either working for or regularly volunteering with a VCSE organisation.

Find out more about the VCSE workforce

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How do we serve our people and communities?

The main population groups we work with in the VCSE:

People with physical disabilities
People or households living in poverty
People with long-term health conditions
People in rural areas
People with mental health conditions
People with learning disabilities

Many VCSE organisations were built up with as well as for people who need support and assist people in the context of their families and communities: we call this co-production..