Third sector

Third Sector organisations all have some important characteristics in common, being:

• independent, non-governmental bodies; 
• established voluntarily by people who choose to organise; 
• ‘value-driven’ and motivated by the desire to further social, cultural or environmental objectives, rather than simply to make a profit; and 
• committed to reinvesting their surpluses to further their social, cultural or environmental objectives.

The Wales Council for Voluntary Action publishes an annual analysis of the Third Sector in Wales (external link). 

It is estimated that as at January 2013, there are some 33,000 Third Sector organisations in Wales, harnessing the energies of some 978,000 volunteers and 51,000 paid staff. In addition, it is estimated that over 600,000 persons volunteer informally within their communities.