NICVA’s State of the Sector Profiles the VCSE Sector

NICVA’s latest State of the Sector research sheds light on the VCSE sector in Northern Ireland in a brand new online format. This article focuses on the Profile section of the research. 

NICVA has published the latest State of the Sector research in a brand new online resource which you can explore here. This new online format enables users to easily navigate across the different sections and download the data behind the research. It will also enable the Research Team at NICVA to update State of the Sector on a rolling basis, which means the information available to users will be more up-to-date than in previous formats.

The research estimates that there are 6,127 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that currently operate in Northern Ireland (this figure excludes branches). The council areas with the highest concentration of organisations include Belfast (26.89%), Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (10.9%) and Derry and Strabane (9.18%).  Notably Belfast South is the constituency with the highest proportion of organisations (10.62%).

Heatmap of Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise Organisations by New Council Area

In the State of the Sector survey 70% of respondents identified their organisation as voluntary while 25% identified their organisation as a community group. 5% of organisations identified themselves as a social enterprise. A high proportion of respondents (81%) were based in Northern Ireland only, while 6.7% were part of a UK wide organisation and 5.8% were part of an all-Ireland organisation.

Geographic remit of State of the Sector respondents

The top five areas of work identified by respondents were community development, education and training, health and wellbeing, children (6-13 years) and children (0-5 years). The top 20 areas of work identified by State of the Sector respondents are listed below.

Top 20 areas of work identified by State of the Sector respondentsTop 20 areas of work identified by State of the Sector respondents

State of the Sector brings together data from numerous sources, including NICVA’s State of the Sector, the Sector Forecast and Workforce Surveys. Data is also drawn from the Millward Brown Omnibus Survey, NICVA’s administrative database, the Government Funders Database, 360 Giving and open datasets. Data was also sought directly from Grant Making Trusts, Government Departments, Non Departmental Public Bodies and Councils. You can read more about the methodology behind the research here.

On 28th September NICVA’s Research Team will be presenting findings from State of the Sector at a research launch event. Paul Givan MLA, Minister for the Department for Communities, will be commenting on the research and will be outlining his priorities for the voluntary, community and social enterprise Sector at the event. You can register to attend here

Share your COVID-19 support service

Organisations providing support to people and communities can share their service information here

> Share your support

Not a NICVA member yet?

Save time, money and energy. Join NICVA and you’ll be connecting in to a strong network of local organisations focused on voluntary and community activity.

Join Us

NICVA now welcomes all small groups for free.

Read more on...