Most people get involved in the third sector by volunteering. A significantly smaller number work within the third sector, about 1,100 people in the local area. We can help people to volunteer or seek employment in the third sector, but we also help organisations to engage with people and communities. We also support our public sector partners to engage better with local people and communities - thus strengthening engagement.

As a community development organisation, we support people and organisations to develop their capacity and confidence to tackle issues, improve opportunities and reduce inequality in their local area or community of interest.

A further, and increasingly important, method is through networking and partnership working (see Partnerships and Networks for more information). As an organisation we're actively involved in over 50 partnerships and networks to ensure the third sector locally remains connected and involved. A lot of engagement is done by our staff to further the interests of the local sector and volunteering, but we also support and encourage direct engagement of third sector organisations involved in the delivery of services.

We're particularly keen to work alongside organisations, to help strengthen their argument or cause, and to harness collective strength in bringing about change. We already have some examples of achieving this and on advocating on behalf of organisations to achieve the outcome they sought.

Promoting consultations and supporting participation in them is another developing area of work for us. We now have a dedicated consultations area on this new website. Please visit that section for opportunities to get involved, improve engagement and further your own, or your organisations' objectives.

Ultimately, those particularly keen on getting involved and developing engagement within the third sector can come and speak to us about getting involved with the CVS and Volunteer Centre - as a volunteer, intern, Board member or employee. Or, if you just have some ideas or concerns, we'd be delighted to discuss them with you.