Charity and development work : Overview

• The charity and development sector is also known as the voluntary sector, the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and the third sector.
• There is no set career path to enter the sector as a vast range of opportunities are available, each requiring different skills.
• The voluntary sector has grown significantly in recent years, with a 23% increase in the amount of employees (from 1999 to 2008).
• Over a third of the sector's workforce hold a degree (The UK Civil Society Almanac, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)).
• The current economic climate and the high risk of funding cuts are key issues currently affecting the VCS.

What kind of work can I do?

• Administration.
• Community development.
• Finance.
• Fundraising.
• Human resources.
• Campaigning, communications and public relations - organisations rely on communicating their key messages to the target audiences using different methods such as major public events, media and celebrity endorsements.
• Policy and research.
• Volunteer management and co-ordination.

What’s it like working in this industry?

• Individuals working in this sector are expected to be highly committed to their employers and the organisation’s cause. Working in this sector seems to inspire high levels of motivation and pride.
• As a sector, it can be one of the most progressive and fulfilling workplaces, offering opportunities for part-time employment, flexibility, work-life balance and volunteering.
• Over recent years, salaries have increased within the charity sector with the average employee earning £25,000 in 2008/09 compared with £19,900 in 2004/05 (charitiesdirect.com, 2010).
• However staff working in the charity sector generally get paid 10% less than their counterparts employed in the private sector (Croner Reward Survey - personneltoday.com, 2010).
• The pay for CEO's within the charity sector is generally 21% lower than their counterparts within other sectors (charitiesdirect.com, 2010).
• Salaries will vary depending on the organisation as well as the nature of the role and responsibilities. Those in larger organisations may earn more than those employed within a much smaller organisation. However, salary increases are not necessarily greater in larger organisations.
• Positions in the charity and development sector are often advertised as 35-40 hours per week.  However heavy workloads, limited staff resources and budget constraints can increase the working day considerably.  Being paid overtime is rare.  Some positions and organisations may sometimes require weekend and evening work. To counteract this, organisations may offer a time of in lieu system.
• There are many part-time positions in the sector at all levels. Job-sharing is also offered at many charity and development organisations. Volunteering is also popular within the charity and development sector.
• Due to increased funding constraints, many jobs within charity and development work are offered under a temporary contract. This can be from six months or a year, to two or three years. The lack of job security can have financial and lifestyle implications.
• The equal opportunities within this sector are generally much better than in business sector.

How big is this industry?

• 668,000 were employed in this sector in April 2008. This is over 2% of the overall workforce in the UK (NCVO’s UK Civil Society Almanac, 2010).
• From 2004/05 to 2008/09, the number of employees in the charity sector grew by 11,000, with the biggest increase in operational job roles (charityfinancials.com, 2010).

Where can I work?

• The majority of national/international charities and development organisations have their headquarters in London and the South East of England. Due to this, a vast proportion of jobs are based in this area. 
• Many organisations also have regional offices based around the UK, resulting in some regional opportunities.