EEDA - Third sector

Third sector

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Third sector

The 'third sector' is a term given to non-governmental organisations that exist to meet social, cultural or environmental objectives. It includes voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals.

Third sector organisations are well placed to deliver services that enhance employability or support enterprise. They can bring specialist knowledge, experience and skills, often with direct experience of the user perspective. They can be flexible and innovative and can gain the confidence of those users who tend to mistrust government agencies.

They may also provide indirect means of helping people into economic participation through volunteering or intermediary employment by social enterprises. This offers people pathways towards employment by developing their skills and confidence and creating access to new social networks and opportunities.

EEDA's aim is to enhance the capacity of the third sector. It does this by supporting a number of regional third sector networks and through a range of business development programmes for social enterprise.