Overview of the UK charity sector

What is the charity sector?

The charity sector - often called the third sector, the voluntary sector, or the not-for-profit sector - exists to create a positive impact on people and communities - rather than generate money.

There were around 171,000 registered charities in England and Wales last year, with a record level of nearly 10,000 applications to register as a charity by the end of 2025 - a clear sign that the sector continues to grow.

Learn more about what the charity and voluntary work sector has to offer.

What areas of the charity sector can I work in?

Fundraising is the most visible activity in the industry, but charities need lots of different skills.

Social care is the largest charity subsector, accounting for about 20% of not-for-profit organisations. In fact, around 39% of third-sector employees are social workers, making it one of the most dominant professional roles.

Depending on your interests, you could also work in:

• accountancy and finance
• business and project management
• counselling and therapy
• human resources (HR)
• information technology (IT)
• marketing and public relations (PR)
• teaching, education and training.

Explore what it's like to work with the homeless or work for a pressure group.

How do I get into the charity sector?

There's no single route into the third sector. Graduate schemes exist, but they're less common than in the private sector. Most charities recruit directly into entry-level roles.

Common entry points include:

• graduate and trainee programmes at larger charities
• entry-level positions such as fundraising assistant or policy assistant
• paid internships and short-term placement roles
• volunteering as a starting point before moving into paid work
• transferring from the public sector.

Discover how to get a graduate charity job.

What skills do charities look for?

Charities value a mix of technical skills and personal qualities. Employers often look for:

• the ability to work with diverse communities and stakeholders
• adaptability and problem solving in resource-limited environments
• empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence
• strong communication and interpersonal skills
• teamwork and collaboration.

Specialist knowledge can make you stand out for roles such as data analyst or policy officer, including:

• grant writing - preparing strong funding applications for projects
• impact measurement - using data to show how a charity's work makes a difference
• monitoring and evaluation (M&E) - measuring the success and impact of projects.

Notforprofit organisations must follow strict rules and be transparent about how they operate. This means employees are expected to act with honesty and manage resources responsibly, as they're accountable to regulators, funders, and the public.

Discover what skills employers want.

Who are the main charity sector employers?

Third sector employers include:

• non-government organisations (NGOs)
• large national or international charities
• small and medium-sized organisations (SMEs)
• social enterprises.

Health and social care charities are among the most trusted and respected charity sector employers. If you're interested in wellbeing or emergency response careers in roles like children's nursing or paramedicine, these organisations offer strong opportunities.

According to YouGov, the UK's most popular charities are:

• Cancer Research UK
• British Heart Foundation
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• Great Ormond Street Hospital
• St. John Ambulance

The largest UK charities by income in 2025 include:

• Nuffield Health
• Save the Children International
• The Charities Aid Foundation
• The British Council
• The Arts Council of England
• United Learning Ltd
• The National Trust
• Cancer Research UK
• Cardiff University
• Lloyd's Register Foundation

These big names often translate into large workforces. For example, Save the Children employs around 19,548 people, and Nuffield Health has about 18,215 employees.

While big charities attract attention, over 75% of charities earn less than £100,000 a year, and only a tiny fraction have multi-million-pound budgets. Smaller charities employ a large share of the workforce - over half (53%) of charity sector employees work for organisations with fewer than 50 staff.

These smaller, often local charities offer hands-on experience and rapid skill development. Here are some examples:

What qualifications do I need?

There's no single qualification required to work in the charity sector, and entry requirements vary depending on the:

• area of work
• organisation
• role.

For entry-level and frontline roles, employers value experience and commitment as much as formal qualifications. For specialist roles - like social researcher or compliance officer - you'll usually need a relevant degree or professional qualification.

Safeguarding is key for charities working with children, vulnerable adults, or international communities. You may need safeguarding training and sometimes a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

What will I earn?

Salaries in the charity sector are usually lower than in the private sector, particularly at entry level. Pay levels vary depending on the:

• funding model
• location
• nature of the role
• size of the organisation.

As a guide:

• entry-level positions typically pay between £22,000 and £26,000
• graduate roles range from £26,000 to £32,000
• manager-level roles often fall between £32,000 and £45,000
• senior leadership positions can exceed £50,000.

Larger organisations tend to offer structured pay scales and additional benefits such as:

• extra annual leave
• hybrid working
• pension schemes.

Smaller charities may pay less, but they often provide broader responsibilities and faster skill development, which can be a great way to build experience early in your career. Some roles are temporary and linked to specific projects or grants, so flexibility is important.

See our charity and voluntary work job profiles for specific salary details.

What's it like working in the charity sector?

If you're motivated by social impact and values-led work, this sector could be a great fit. The work can be deeply rewarding - but also demanding during times of high need or limited funding.

You can expect:

• flexible working options, including part-time and hybrid roles
• high job satisfaction and meaningful progression
• lower salaries compared to the private sector
• mostly office-based roles, with some community visits
• occasional travel, sometimes internationally.

Competition for paid roles is strong, and job security can be affected by short-term funding.

Discover how to choose a career.

Can I work abroad in the charity sector?

Many charities operate internationally, but most roles are based in the UK - often at headquarters. In fact, 42% of England's charity sector workforce is concentrated in London and the South, supporting areas such as:

• communications
• fundraising
• operations
• programmes
• policy.

Jobs abroad are less common and usually need specialist skills and experience. They're often in humanitarian or emergency-response work and can involve tough conditions.

Big international charities usually hire UK-based staff first, such as:

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
• Save the Children
• Oxfam
• British Red Cross

Overseas roles usually come later in your career. Some graduates get international experience through short-term placements, but these are competitive and limited. Long-term careers abroad usually develop gradually, not straight after graduation.

Explore our guidance on working abroad.

What trends are impacting charity sector employment?

Digital, data and AI

While 76% of charities now use artificial intelligence (AI) in some way, many still lack strong digital leadership according to the Charity Digital Skills Report. As a result, digital transformation is a priority for 74% of charities, creating growing demand for expertise in areas like fundraising, data analysis, and ethical AI use. Discover how to get a job in AI.

Digital fundraising is another challenge. Despite being a top priority, 41% of charities rate their performance as poor, and 25% don't do it at all. Limited funding - especially for smaller organisations - remains the biggest barrier to progress. If you bring strong tech skills and adaptability, you'll stand out in a sector eager to modernise but constrained by resources.

Cost of living and financial pressures

Charities are under pressure as demand rises and budgets tighten. Donations and legacies make up about a third of charity income, so skills like fundraising, grant writing, and financial management are becoming increasingly valuable to keep services running.

Smaller, local charities feel this strain most because they often have limited reserves and short-term funding. Working in these organisations often means managing tight budgets, finding creative solutions, and coping with uncertainty.

Volunteer recruitment and retention

Volunteers remain essential, with 6.56 million people supporting charities in England and Wales. However, heavy workloads, emotional demands, and pressure to deliver with limited resources often lead to fatigue and burnout for both staff and volunteers.

As a result, demand is growing for roles such as volunteer coordinator, and employees working in the sector need strong resilience, adaptability and effective wellbeing strategies.

Find out more

• Discover opportunities to volunteer with children or animals.
• Explore international development courses.